OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — Oklahoma business leaders remain confident in the state’s economic direction, but they are also warning that momentum alone will not be enough to secure long-term growth.
The 2026 Oklahoma Business Leaders Poll, conducted by The State Chamber, the Oklahoma Business Roundtable, and The State Chamber Research Foundation, surveyed 401 Oklahoma business owners and executives in early spring 2026. The annual poll measures business community perspectives on the economy, workforce, infrastructure, innovation, and the policy priorities that matter most for Oklahoma’s competitiveness.
The poll found 64% of business leaders believe Oklahoma is moving in the right direction relative to the national economy, and 81% of businesses plan to hire in the coming year. But the findings also point to clear constraints that could slow growth if state leaders do not act.
“Oklahoma business leaders are optimistic, but they are also realistic about the challenges ahead,” said Amanda Hall, policy director at The State Chamber Research Foundation. “Employers are planning to hire, invest and grow, but they continue to identify workforce as the central issue affecting their ability to compete. The data shows business leaders want practical, targeted investment in the fundamentals that support long-term growth.”
Workforce and education remain the dominant concern. Seventy-four percent of respondents identified workforce and education as one of the two most important issues facing Oklahoma business growth, while nearly half said workforce recruitment and retention is their single greatest obstacle to profitability and growth.
The poll also found only 30% of business leaders say Oklahoma’s current workforce meets their needs well, and 55% say Oklahoma high school graduates are not prepared for the workplace. At the same time, business leaders overwhelmingly support practical workforce solutions, including early reading and math, CareerTech, apprenticeships, work-based learning, child care access, and stronger alignment between schools and employers.
“This poll provides positive data points, but more importantly, it highlights trends we cannot ignore,” said Mark Funke, president of the Oklahoma Business Roundtable. “Workforce, education, and healthcare will define our state’s long-term success over the next five years, and these are the issues we must address now.”
The survey found 89% of business leaders agree Oklahoma should prioritize funding and resources for improved education outcomes, particularly in elementary reading and math. The report notes that business leaders increasingly see early education as central to the state’s future workforce pipeline.
Infrastructure also emerged as a major competitiveness issue. Fifty-nine percent of respondents said Oklahoma’s physical infrastructure is worse than that of competitor states, and 40% said infrastructure gaps have delayed business investment or expansion. Roads, utilities, broadband, housing, and grid capacity were identified as business growth issues, not just public works concerns.
Business leaders also pointed to Oklahoma’s innovation capacity as an area needing attention. About one-third described Oklahoma’s innovation economy as weak, while only 8% reported enterprise-wide adoption of AI and automation. The report said barriers to broader technology adoption are practical, including cybersecurity concerns, talent gaps, cost, and unclear return on investment.
“Oklahoma’s business community is sending a clear message: the state has momentum, but execution matters,” said Chad Warmington, president and CEO of the State Chamber of Oklahoma. “Workforce, infrastructure, and innovation are not abstract policy issues. They affect whether companies can hire, expand, and compete. Business leaders are looking for solutions that strengthen the pipeline, support growth, and position Oklahoma to win.”
The poll also found business leaders are not opposed to strategic public investment. Nearly 60% said the state should invest surplus funds in public priorities rather than return the money through tax cuts. Sixty-one percent said Oklahoma must use business incentives to compete with other states, while only 7% favored eliminating incentives altogether.
The report’s central message is that Oklahoma’s competitiveness depends on execution. Business leaders are not asking the state to spend for its own sake, but they are calling for disciplined investment in the priorities they believe will produce clear economic returns: stronger workforce outcomes, better infrastructure, and long-term competitiveness.
