Author :  Bryan Smith 
Date :  08/04/2008

(OK) Even with increased employment, labor force growth for the month of June caused an increase in state unemployment rates, according to a recent state report.

According to a report released by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, statewide non-seasonally adjusted labor force, employment and unemployment all grew in the month of June.

When taking into account job growth and labor force increases, unemployment grew by 0.7 percent, reaching 4.2 percent. The report showed that unemployment outpaced job growth, increasing by 19.6 percent.

As in May, McCurtain County led the state with the highest overall unemployment at 7.3 percent. That number is up by 1 percent over the previous month.