How will trade shortages and workforce changes affect Oklahoma?

The Trump administration has been focused on the workforce and it's reduction in the public sector, in conjunction with previous work from DOGE, today's Hot Seat focuses on the federal cuts which has a chance of affecting industry and outlooks for the state of Oklahoma.

Watch the full discussion above, or follow along for the biggest takeaways:

Workforce Shortages and Trades

1. There is a severe shortage in trades (such as plumbing), with the average plumber age at 58 years; ideally, it should be 42 years to ensure a sustainable pipeline of workers .
2. Oklahoma has strong apprenticeship programs, especially in unions, and continually needs engineers due to aerospace industry demands .
3. Over 51% of Oklahoma counties lack an OB-GYN, and two-thirds are "childcare deserts," affecting women's workforce participation .

Career Tech and Education

1. Oklahoma has a highly respected career tech system, governed locally to tailor training programs for area job markets, offering pathways into medical and technical fields .
2. Career counseling in public education lacks sufficient funding and prioritization, so local colleges and career techs should be consulted for guidance on lucrative, sustainable careers, especially given ongoing changes from AI and technology .

Medical Facility Concerns and Medicaid

1. Upcoming Medicaid cuts in 2026 are expected to cause many rural medical facilities and nursing homes to close, which previously happened during the 2008-2009 recession before Medicaid expansion dollars were accepted .
2. The majority of Medicaid recipients are employed full-time in jobs without health insurance, and loss of Medicaid will leave many uninsured .

Economic Outlook and Data Integrity

1. Commissioner Osborne expresses caution about economic challenges, emphasizing the need for nonpartisan, accurate data for policymaking .
2. The recent firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics director and replacement with a partisan figure threatens the reliability of national data .

Workforce and High-Tech Industry

1. New tech industries (such as data centers) bring initial construction jobs but few long-term positions and consume large amounts of electricity, potentially raising consumer rates .
2. Oklahoma should attract high-tech companies and invest in workforce training, rather than only call centers and warehouses .

Renewables and Energy Policy

1. Renewable energy, especially wind, plays a large role in Oklahoma's power supply; diversifying energy sources stabilizes rates and supports agriculture .
2. Negative rhetoric against renewables is unfounded, and China’s investment in renewables could outpace the U.S. in energy costs, shifting industry overseas .

Wage Theft and Department Services

1. Wage theft—where employers fail to pay workers what they're owed—is addressed by the Department of Labor with a free service to help recover unpaid wages without expensive legal action; $1.5 million was returned to workers last year, helping the most vulnerable .

Advocacy and Bipartisanship

1. The commissioner urges residents to rely on local news and direct government sources, avoid partisan media, and actively participate in advocacy to influence policy .
2. Interim studies on important topics are publicly available online, and constituents are encouraged to contact representatives to provide expertise and advocate for informed decisions .