Is Oklahoma a bottom five or top ten state? Labor Commissioner argues the state is one of the worst due to hateful rhetoric
While Governor Kevin Stitt harps on Oklahoma being a top ten state, the Labor Commissioner argues the state sits in the bottom five.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — While Governor Kevin Stitt harps on Oklahoma being a top ten state, the Labor Commissioner argues the state sits in the bottom five.
According to the U.S. News and World Report, Oklahoma is 43rd overall. It also ranks:
- 43rd in Crime & Corrections
- 34th in Economy
- 48th in Education
- 48th in Healthcare
- 37th in Natural Environment
- 22nd in Infrastructure
- 23rd in Fiscal Stability
- 24th in Opportunity
Oklahoma has been ranked 41st in CNBC’s annual Top States for Business study for 2023 – down three spots since the 2022 survey.
A WalletHub survey ranks Oklahoma as the 51st in the nation for a woman's economic and social well-being.
"We're losing those kind of things, but we're gaining a lot of Jiffy Lubes and Wendy's," said Oklahoma Labor Commissioner, Leslie Osborn. "We're failing our citizens because we have sunk to the bottom five in most indicators that make big conglomerates and businesses that provide great jobs here, and we're not doing the things to keep those companies from leaving."
Osborn told News 4 that there is a disconnect in whether Oklahoma is advertised as a top ten or a bottom five state because real statistics are overlooked.
The State Chamber of Commerce said businesses like Panasonic and Michelin fleeing Oklahoma doesn't have anything to do with the above mentioned rankings, but more so a labor shortage.
"We have more jobs available than we have workers to fill them," said the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation Executive Director, Ben Lepak. "I think Oklahoma is making strides in its overall economic competitiveness with other states due to some really good policy reforms the state has put in, in recent years. I think the future's bright. We're growing as a state and we have a pretty good economy and we're where people are moving."
He added having skilled workers has been a downfall for the state as education is needing more investments.
"I will say Oklahoma's taken some really big strides lately with the creation of the Oklahoma Workforce Commission, which is really an innovative model that will, as it develops and gets fully online, lead the nation in workforce development and coordination of workforce activities in the state," stated Lepak.
Lepak referenced the state's tax environment and infrastructure as driving Oklahoma to be a top ten state.
"If you look at the data, Oklahoma has really done remarkable work on improving highway and road infrastructure and bridge infrastructure. There's still work to be done. It takes a long time, but Oklahoma's really done great work on infrastructure that we should celebrate," explained Lepak.
While Osborn agrees Oklahoma has taken the right strides to becoming a better state overall, she blames hateful rhetoric and a lack of investment for its downfall.
Osborn recently spoke at a Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce sponsored event and made statements regarding how her daughter has fled the state due to an anti-LGBTQ+ narrative coming from the State Capitol.
Per the video circulating social media, the audience was seemingly in support of Osborn condemning anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
"I think we're better than that. It's so encouraging to try to plant those seeds with an audience and they get it because this is how we change the world," she said.
Recently, Senator Tom Woods (R-Westville) spoke at a legislative forum and referred to the LGBTQ+ community as "filth." Osborn has since referenced comments like his as a reason for the state taking a big name business hit.
“My heart goes out to that scenario, if that is the case,” said Woods. “We’re a Republican state – supermajority – in the House and Senate. I represent a constituency that doesn’t want that filth in Oklahoma.”
We are a religious state and we are going to fight it to keep that filth out of the state of Oklahoma because we are a Christian state – we are a moral state.
Rep. Tom Woods, R-Westville
"My daughter got two Masters while she's living here in Oklahoma. Lovely and kind human and she is a member of the LGBT community and moved to Massachusetts because she did not feel welcome here. Over the last 2-3 years, she started noticing a difference even going in public restaurants, going in restrooms, whatever it would be and that's not acceptable. That's not the government's job," said Osborn.
Osborn told News 4 rhetoric as such drives businesses and people from Oklahoma which also drives the state's ranking into the ground.
"We need an intervention," she said. "What we need is to have kind of a come to Jesus moment."
Osborn feels encouraged by the new legislature leadership coming in this year.
She will also, over the next three years as the Labor Commissioner, continue to fill workforce roles and push for higher education investments.
The State Chamber of Commerce plans to continue researching where the state falls in rankings and where improvements are crucial.