New Study Says Manufacturing is Vital to Oklahoma’s Economy

January 29, 2009 -- A new report, compiled by Southwestern Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission shows the manufacturing sector is a vital component of Oklahoma's economy.

The report's findings include:

• Oklahoma is home to about 4,700 manufacturers that employed 151,012 people in 2007;
• Manufacturing contributed 11.1%, or $15.5 billion, to Oklahoma's gross state product in 2007;
• Manufacturing jobs pay better than those in other sectors, and support more secondary jobs in the wider economy. 

The report also finds manufacturing has the potential to have a substantial impact on Oklahoma's economy over the next 20 years:

Chad Wilkerson, a Federal Reserve regional economist, tells The Oklahoman the state's manufacturing is sometimes "an overlooked sector."

In Oklahoma, manufacturing produces the same economic impact that it does on the national level, says Wilkerson.

Click here to read the full report