The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is the primary economic development entity in the state. Our mission is to increase the quantity and the quality of jobs in Oklahoma.
About Us
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) is a United States Department of Labor (USDOL) funded agency dedicated to providing workforce-related services to Oklahoma citizens, employers and workforce organizations. There are numerous OESC offices located across the state to provide services to individuals and employers in their local communities. Additionally, through OESC's Community Outreach Service Model, staff are strategically stationed in areas where an OESC office is not currently available.
There are two flyers available that showcase many of the services available to individuals and employers when visiting or working with a local OESC office.
Job Seeker / Unemployment Claimant Flyer
[View flyer in Spanish | Vietnamese]
OESC is also responsible for collecting Unemployment Insurance taxes from liable employers in Oklahoma. These funds are then used to pay benefits to individuals who lose their job and meet the necessary requirements to receive unemployment benefits.
Lastly, OESC collects, analyzes and distributes a wide-array of socio-economic data that can be used by organizations or members of the public for research, economic or business purposes.
Contact Us
Find your nearest OESC office or reach us by other means.
Meet Leadership
Meet the team that leads OESC and each of its divisions.
Careers
Interested in a career serving your fellow Oklahomans?
Policies
Access information about our policies, amendments, and how we are funded
OESC's Vision, Mission and Values
Vision
Empowering Oklahomans to work and live well.
Mission
Connecting Oklahomans to the workforce through reliable and innovative services for a more prosperous Oklahoma.
Values
- Commitment - Commit to excellence every day.
- Collaboration - Unite as a team to generate more effective outcomes.
- Ownership - Be an expert in your role and in all things state workforce.
- Accountability - Answer to Oklahomans and remain fiscally responsible.
- Growth-Mindset - We respect the uniqueness of each individual as we strive to promote growth and opportunity.
OESC's Partners
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services is the largest state agency in Oklahoma. DHS provides a wide range of assistance programs to help Oklahomans in need including: food benefits (SNAP); temporary cash assistance (TANF); services for persons with developmental disabilities and persons who are aging; adult protective services; child welfare programs; child support services; and child care assistance, licensing and monitoring. DHS also handles applications and eligibility for Sooner Care, the state's Medicaid program offering health care to families with low incomes.
The Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) expands opportunities for employment, independent life, and economic self-sufficiency by helping Oklahomans with disabilities bridge barriers to success in the workplace, school, and at home.
ORO Development Corporation provides education, training, housing, employment and other assistance for eligible agricultural industry workers, as they become self-sufficient, productive members of the community.
OESC works heavily with the US Department of Labor due to all it's grants coming from the USDOL.
One of the divisions within USDOL that OESC partners with is the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) who enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WHD also enforces the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, and a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided in several immigration related statutes. Additionally, WHD administers and enforces the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts and the Service Contract Act and other statutes applicable to federal contracts for construction and for the provision of goods and services.
Oklahoma Works is a collaborative partnership that facilitates various employment services and related services to help someone gain permanent, meaningful employment.
The Oklahoma Department of Labor is responsible for the enforcement of those labor laws that promote fairness and equity in the workforce, including state wage laws, workers' compensation compliance, state OSHA laws for public employers, asbestos compliance, child labor laws, and various other duties.
