Employment increased in all three largest counties in Oklahoma from March 2024 to March 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Cleveland County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 1.2 percent. (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Oklahoma, March 2025

County	Percent change, March 2025
Cleveland	1.2
Oklahoma	0.8
Tulsa	0.8

Among the three largest counties in Oklahoma, employment was highest in Oklahoma County (496,800) in March 2025. Together, the three largest counties accounted for 56.4 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2024.)

Both large Oklahoma counties with published data reported average weekly wage increases over the year. (See chart 2.) Tulsa had the larger increase (+4.7 percent), followed by Cleveland (+1.5 percent).

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Oklahoma, first quarter 2025

County	Percent change, first quarter 2025
Tulsa	4.7
Cleveland	1.5

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 74 small counties in Oklahoma, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels in all 74 smaller counties were below the national average. Dewey reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,516). Jefferson reported the lowest average weekly wage ($647) in the state.

Among all 77 Oklahoma counties, 23 reported average weekly wages of $874 or lower, 16 had wages from $875 to $949, 18 had wages from $950 to $1,024, and 20 had average weekly wages of $1,025 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)