Tulsa Adds Jobs, Cuts Crime, Builds Housing

Mayor Monroe Nichols used his second State of the City address to report employment growth, falling homicides, and housing progress.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Employment

Isometric editorial illustration of three stepped civic buildings on a flat prairie horizon under clear golden light, evoking steady city progress. — Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols reported Tuesday that the county added jobs, violent crime solve rates reached 96%, and 820 unhoused residents have been housed through Safe Move Tulsa. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols delivered his second State of the City address Tuesday evening at the Tulsa Fire Department Training Academy. He credited the city's economic growth, declining crime, and housing progress during his time in office.

Why it matters

Tulsa County was the only one of Oklahoma's three largest counties to record net employment growth between March 2025 and March 2026. The results reflect the mayor's reported progress on jobs, public safety, and housing affordability for Tulsa residents.

Local wages grew 4.4% compared with a 4.2% national average, and Tulsa County was the only one of Oklahoma's three largest counties to record net employment growth from March 2025 to March 2026. Timing of the nearly 5,500 announced jobs and their share going to local residents was not specified.

The players

Monroe Nichols

Monroe Nichols is the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who delivered the city's State of the City address and presented its economic, crime, and housing figures.

The details

Nichols reported that 820 previously unhoused individuals have been housed through Safe Move Tulsa and that 25 homeless encampments have been closed and remain closed. The violent crime solve rate stands at 96%, and property crime fell by double-digit percentages.

March 2025 to March 2026: Tulsa County recorded net employment growth.
Since Nichols took office: 4,400 housing units were completed or permitted.
2028: Target date for 6,000 new affordable units.

Economic Context

The reported 4.4% local wage growth outpaced the 4.2% national average, placing Tulsa's pay gains above the broader U.S. trend in the same period. The address offered no detail on whether that gap will persist beyond the reported timeframe.

Tulsa residents seeking work may find nearly 5,500 newly announced regional jobs, though the address did not say how many are open to local hires. Households facing housing costs may see new affordable units, with 2,500 of 4,400 units meeting affordability thresholds.

The takeaway

Tulsa's reported gains in jobs, public safety, and housing point to a city tracking progress against specific targets. Residents can judge the next results against the mayor's 2028 goal of 6,000 affordable units.