breaking news** Americans in red states say they are struggling to find jobs as 21 states end unemployment, $30,000 is top salary

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The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission is tracking recent results of a return-to-work push, and they are not looking good.

“We're not seeing people return in the volume we would have hoped to by now," said Shelly
Focusing on the city of Broken Arrow, 150 job seekers attended a career fair at the chamber of commerce on Wednesday. Staff said they are happy with that turnout. However, when comparing it to the number of local available jobs, there is a big gap.

Online at workinba.com, there is a list of 900 jobs posted within the last two weeks.

“We have everything from entry level to professional careers here,” said Amber Smith, workforce development manager of the Broken Arrow Chamber.
Smith helped coordinate Wednesday’s career fair, which gave local employers and potential candidates the chance to meet in one spot.


For many job seekers, the problem is pay. Most of the jobs being offered in Broken Arrow are in the $22-69,000 yearly salary range. A bulk of them do not go past $30,000.
“That's my issue. Trying to find a job I can live on,” Kirsten Stovall said.

Stovall, a single mother of three teens, is determined to find a job with higher pay. One that provides at least $20 an hour.

“Some of these jobs that I apply for, they want a bachelor's degree and years and years of experience, and they’re like $14 an hour,” she said.