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These Are The 10 Worst Places In Oklahoma To Get A Job

By Chris Kolmar
Mar. 21, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Feb. 5, 2026

Find a Job You Really Want In

Discover the 10 Least Favorable Cities for Job Seekers in Oklahoma

At Zippia, our mission is to explore job markets across the nation to identify the best and worst cities for employment opportunities.

In this article, we focus on the cities in Oklahoma that present the most challenges for job seekers, following our recent analysis of the state’s most promising job markets.

These cities struggled to demonstrate the resilience and growth needed for economic advancement and career progression.

Based on an analysis of data from Oklahoma’s 100 largest cities, the ten most challenging cities to find a job in 2026 are:

  1. Stilwell
  2. Sallisaw
  3. Muldrow
  4. Heavener
  5. Holdenville
  6. Nowata
  7. Pocola
  8. Wewoka
  9. Poteau
  10. Seminole

Read on to learn about our methodology and insights.

For more information about job opportunities in Oklahoma, check out:

How We Identified the Least Favorable Job Markets in Oklahoma

Our analysis focused on Oklahoma’s largest cities, specifically those with populations exceeding 5,000 residents, resulting in a total of 100 cities for evaluation.

We ranked each city based on various criteria, from one to 100, with one representing the most challenging position in that category.

Finally, we calculated the average rank across all criteria to determine which city would be labeled as the “Least Favorable City for Job Seekers in Oklahoma.”

The criteria we analyzed included:

1. Stilwell

Population: 3,932 Recent Job Growth: -5.06%
Future Job Growth: 24.20%

2. Sallisaw

Population: 8,779 Recent Job Growth: -2.02%
Future Job Growth: 29.50%

3. Muldrow

Population: 3,422 Recent Job Growth: -2.02%
Future Job Growth: 29.50%

4. Heavener

Population: 3,390 Recent Job Growth: -2.01%
Future Job Growth: 29.40%

5. Holdenville

Population: 5,628 Recent Job Growth: -1.66%
Future Job Growth: 30.40%

6. Nowata

Population: 3,779 Recent Job Growth: -1.84%
Future Job Growth: 30.80%

7. Pocola

Population: 4,030 Recent Job Growth: -2.01%
Future Job Growth: 29.40%

8. Wewoka

Population: 3,430 Recent Job Growth: -1.54%
Future Job Growth: 31.50%

9. Poteau

Population: 8,502 Recent Job Growth: -2.01%
Future Job Growth: 29.40%

10. Seminole

Population: 7,438 Recent Job Growth: -1.54%
Future Job Growth: 31.50%

Conclusion: Reflecting on Job Opportunities in Oklahoma

After analyzing the data, Stilwell ranks as the most challenging city for job seekers in Oklahoma.

While the overall economy continues to progress and job opportunities expand throughout the state, these cities still face significant hurdles in keeping pace with employment growth.

We hope these findings encourage local initiatives to improve job prospects and economic conditions in these areas.

Detailed Ranking of Oklahoma’s Least Favorable Job Markets

City Rank Population Recent Job Growth Future Job Growth
Stilwell 1 3,932 -5.06% 24.20%
Sallisaw 2 8,779 -2.02% 29.50%
Muldrow 3 3,422 -2.02% 29.50%
Heavener 4 3,390 -2.01% 29.40%
Holdenville 5 5,628 -1.66% 30.40%
Nowata 6 3,779 -1.84% 30.80%
Pocola 7 4,030 -2.01% 29.40%
Wewoka 8 3,430 -1.54% 31.50%
Poteau 9 8,502 -2.01% 29.40%
Seminole 10 7,438 -1.54% 31.50%
Okmulgee 11 12,402 -0.24% 32.80%
Blackwell 12 7,064 -2.02% 31.30%
Hobart 13 3,737 -3.22% 29.50%
McAlester 14 18,412 -5.60% 24.30%
Muskogee 15 39,045 -1.78% 31.80%
Vinita 16 5,721 -1.82% 32.00%
Anadarko 17 6,744 -1.69% 32.10%
Fort Gibson 18 4,168 -1.78% 31.50%
Ponca City 19 25,223 -2.01% 31.10%
Idabel 20 7,002 0.33% 34.30%
Hominy 21 3,594 -0.24% 34.70%
Miami 22 13,588 -1.64% 32.30%
Henryetta 23 5,898 -0.24% 32.80%
Broken Bow 24 4,144 0.33% 34.30%
Pawhuska 25 3,600 -0.24% 34.70%
Hugo 26 5,325 0.53% 35.40%
Tahlequah 27 15,912 -0.70% 34.60%
Ada 28 16,852 -2.44% 31.70%
Grove 29 6,587 -0.81% 33.90%
Bristow 30 4,220 -0.24% 35.20%
Pryor Creek 31 9,519 -0.92% 33.70%
Altus 32 19,708 -3.10% 30.10%
Lawton 33 96,187 -1.26% 32.80%
Frederick 34 3,950 -0.33% 35.30%
Skiatook 35 7,753 -0.24% 35.50%
Sapulpa 36 20,609 -0.24% 35.20%
Dewey 37 3,455 -0.82% 35.20%
Wagoner 38 8,395 -0.24% 35.60%
Tulsa 39 391,486 -0.24% 35.50%
Claremore 40 18,669 -0.24% 35.70%
Del City 41 21,469 1.35% 37.70%
Enid 42 49,122 -1.21% 35.00%
Sand Springs 43 19,157 -0.24% 35.50%
Cushing 44 7,818 -0.10% 36.40%
Coweta 45 9,555 -0.24% 35.60%
Stillwater 46 45,584 -0.10% 36.90%
Spencer 47 3,917 1.36% 38.60%
Midwest City 48 54,773 1.36% 38.20%
Duncan 49 23,332 -0.04% 36.20%
Collinsville 50 5,612 -0.24% 35.50%
Bixby 51 20,964 -0.24% 35.50%
Glenpool 52 10,868 -0.24% 35.50%
Bethany 53 19,188 1.36% 38.60%
Durant 54 16,014 0.96% 38.30%
Bartlesville 55 35,876 -0.82% 35.50%
Jenks 56 16,918 -0.24% 35.50%
Marlow 57 4,645 -0.04% 36.20%
Catoosa 58 7,074 -0.24% 35.70%
Warr Acres 59 10,080 1.36% 38.60%
Madill 60 3,773 2.37% 40.60%
Tecumseh 61 6,480 1.17% 38.50%
Shawnee 62 30,058 1.17% 38.80%
Ardmore 63 24,392 0.70% 38.30%
Perry 64 5,121 0.59% 38.30%
Verdigris 65 3,975 -0.24% 35.70%
Chickasha 66 16,129 1.36% 39.10%
McLoud 67 4,078 1.17% 38.50%
Alva 68 4,883 -0.21% 37.30%
The Village 69 9,034 1.36% 38.60%
Choctaw 70 11,202 1.36% 38.60%
Guthrie 71 10,314 1.36% 39.30%
Lone Grove 72 5,069 0.70% 38.30%
Harrah 73 5,162 1.36% 38.60%
Broken Arrow 74 98,648 -0.24% 36.40%
Oklahoma City 75 581,094 1.36% 38.90%
Owasso 76 29,487 -0.24% 36.60%
Nichols Hills 77 3,736 1.36% 38.60%
El Reno 78 16,955 1.36% 39.20%
Tuttle 79 6,015 1.36% 39.10%
Sulphur 80 4,933 1.99% 41.40%
Purcell 81 5,885 1.36% 39.30%
Mustang 82 17,534 1.36% 39.20%
Pauls Valley 83 6,156 3.21% 43.50%
Woodward 84 12,110 0.80% 39.40%
Watonga 85 3,850 1.44% 39.70%
Slaughterville 86 4,150 1.36% 39.40%
Piedmont 87 5,783 1.36% 39.20%
Noble 88 6,466 1.36% 39.40%
Blanchard 89 7,569 1.36% 39.30%
Moore 90 55,265 1.36% 39.40%
Newcastle 91 7,740 1.36% 39.30%
Weatherford 92 10,891 3.25% 44.20%
Sayre 93 4,559 4.30% 46.40%
Norman 94 111,753 1.36% 39.80%
Guymon 95 11,414 6.21% 49.00%
Clinton 96 9,071 3.25% 44.20%
Edmond 97 81,594 1.36% 39.70%
Kingfisher 98 4,625 2.20% 42.00%
Yukon 99 23,038 1.36% 39.90%
Elk City 100 11,860 4.30% 46.40%
Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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