OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — Business, civic and legislative leaders gathered Monday at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum as The State Chamber of Oklahoma unveiled Oklahoma Competes, a long-term strategic action framework aimed at helping the state regain its competitive edge in the national and global economy.
The initiative is built on a new data analysis led by national economic consultant Ted Abernathy, who presented findings showing Oklahoma trailing most states in several key areas tied to economic growth and community well-being.
According to the report, Oklahoma ranks:
- 49th in third-grade reading scores*
- 50th in eighth-grade math scores*
- 47th in overall health rankings**
- The only state with no growth in advanced industry jobs over the last five years
- Sluggish GDP growth over the past decade (14% compared with the U.S. average of 27.6%)
“Oklahoma has seen these numbers for decades. Our state isn’t losing because we lack resources—we’re losing because we haven’t put them to work,” said State Chamber President and CEO Chad Warmington. “We have been complacent for too long. It’s time to step up and make Oklahoma competitive.”
A Four-Fundamental Strategy
Warmington outlined the Oklahoma Competes framework as a data-driven strategic plan centered on four fundamentals:
- Economic Climate: Preserve and promote low-cost, pro-business advantages
- Education & Workforce: Improve skills and student outcomes
- Infrastructure: Build the physical foundation needed for growth
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Attract and expand high-quality jobs
While praising Oklahoma’s progress in taxes and infrastructure, Warmington said the state must move aggressively to improve education, workforce pipelines and innovation incentives.
“We’ve done the work to make Oklahoma one of the best states to do business,” he said. “But we are still not seeing the growth our neighboring states are seeing. Change will be hard, but we have to do the work if Oklahoma wants to compete on the national stage.”
A Culture of Competitiveness
The State Chamber Research Foundation (SCRF) partnered with Abernathy’s firm, Economic Leadership, to produce the analysis and identify priorities for policymakers.
“Oklahoma Competes is about building a culture of competitiveness,” said Jake Yunker, SCRF executive director. “Data allows policymakers to see what’s working, make quick adjustments, and ensure Oklahoma’s investments pay off for the people of our state.”
SCRF Board Chair Kristin Peck emphasized the stakes beyond the business climate.
“If we choose to ignore this data, we will be failing our children,” Peck said. “This has far-reaching implications beyond the economy. It impacts quality of life for generations.”
Calls for Education and Tech Investment
State Chamber Chair Rick Nagel, CEO of Acorn Growth Companies and a University of Oklahoma regent, said improving third-grade reading performance must be a top priority. He also warned that Oklahoma is falling behind in technology and innovation.
“We have lagged in not only the sustainment of high-tech jobs, but in the creation of new ones,” Nagel said. “If we do this right, we will set an enduring plan for the state that outlasts political cycles.”
More information about the Oklahoma Competes strategy and data can be found at OklahomaCompetes.com.
* NAEP 2024 results
** America’s Health Rankings
