Although the state unemployment rate rose to 7.0% for August, unemployment in Central Oklahoma counties dropped or held steady.

Cleveland County dropped to 5.7% in August, from 6% in July, only .1% above the previous year's August rate. Canadian County dropped to 5.6% from 5.8% over the same time period, .3% under last August's rate. Oklahoma County's unemployment held at 6.7% from the previous month. This rate is .2% above the Aug. '09 unemployment rate for the county.