Unemployment down in area, state

michael.pineda@ardmoreite.com

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported unemployment was down across the state during November. The highest unemployment rate in the state was recorded in LeFlore County, which had a rate of 8.9 percent. Dewey County and Ellis County had the lowest unemployment rates at 2.2 percent.

Carter County's rate continued to improve, coming in at 3.9 percent, a full percentage point from Nov. 2011. Unemployment figures were also low in other parts of the area.

Love County unemployment is 3 percent, down from 3.6 percent in October and 4.5 percent in Nov. 2011. Murray County recorded 3.2 percent unemployment, down from 3.4 percent in October.

Johnston County unemployment was 4.8 percent in November, but down from 6.4 percent in the previous year. Jefferson County and Marshall County showed similar improvements over the course of a year. Jefferson County unemployment was recorded at 5.1 percent, down from 6.7 percent from November 2011 and Marshall County unemployment stands at 5.3 percent. In November 2011, unemployment was turned in at 6.3 percent.