THE GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER’S STATE OF THE ECONOMY HIGHLIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s annual State of the Economy event featured a panel of distinguished economists and business leaders who discussed the state’s economic outlook, workforce development and fiscal policies under the incoming leadership of President-elect Donald Trump.
MARK SNEAD Economist
ECONOMIC POLICIES AND IMPACT ON OKLAHOMA Mark Snead, an economist with the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, shared his insights on the potential impact of President-elect Trump’s economic policies. He noted that while the full outcome remains uncertain, Trump’s tax cuts, regulatory rollbacks and proposed tariffs—particularly on China—could have both positive and negative effects on Oklahoma’s economy. Snead emphasized the state’s strong oil and gas industry as a potential beneficiary of Trump’s pro-energy stance, while also cautioning that broad-based tariffs might not gain approval from Congress. Despite these uncertainties, Snead believes Oklahoma businesses could see long-term gains from reduced regulatory burdens. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION NEEDS The conversation shifted to workforce development; a topic that has garnered significant attention statewide. Bob Dauffenbach, from the University of Oklahoma, highlighted recent efforts to address skills shortages, such as the establishment of the Oklahoma Workforce Commission and the formation of the Oklahoma Office of Economic Development. He stressed that improving both technical and general education, as well as soft skills training, will be essential in meeting the demands of tomorrow’s economy. Dauffenbach said that Oklahoma’s younger generation must be better prepared to thrive in
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