Since COVID disrupted the country in early 2020, job growth in Oklahoma has been among the strongest in the nation with only 13 states generating a higher ratio of payroll growth, according to a recent review of federal data.

Based on federal Bureau of Labor Statistics data from February 2020 to June 2025, E.J. Antoni, chief economist in The Heritage Foundation’s Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, recently noted that Republican states have generally outperformed Democrat-controlled states.

Among other things, the data compiled by Antoni showed the ratio of nonfarm payroll growth in Oklahoma was higher than the ratio in many prominent Democratic-controlled states, including California, Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts.

Of the 25 states comprising the top half of the country, Antoni found that 19 states leaned Republican with Republicans having full control of both the governorship and legislative branch in 14 of those 19 states.

Among the top 10 states, Republicans held full control in seven.

Democrats had full control in only five states that landed in the top 25 with Colorado the highest-ranked state controlled by Democrats in both the executive and legislative branch. Colorado ranked 16th overall.

In contrast, of the 10 states with the worst ratios of payroll growth since COVID, six are completely controlled by Democrats.

Antoni wrote that the chart shows “what a difference public policy makes!”

“It’s pretty satisfying to see Oklahoma ranked ahead of places like California and New York,” said Gov. Kevin Stitt. “We know it’s our business-friendly policies and that unbeatable Oklahoma work ethic. During COVID, we stayed open and protected the rights of business owners and now we’re ahead of the curve. We cut our taxes and doubled down on our pro-growth policies; now we’re crushing it as one of the top job-creating states in the country. No surprise if you’ve spent any time in our great state."

Increased job opportunity appears to have fueled increased migration to Oklahoma.

Census data shows that from April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2024, Oklahoma experienced positive net migration of 93,218 as people from other states flocked to Oklahoma. That ranked 10th most in the nation during that time.