A new 84-page report from the Oklahoma Technology Alliance says the state’s tech economy already exists, but it needs a unified strategy to grow and, more importantly, to stay.“OK Competes: Tech Edition,”developed with the State Chamber of Oklahoma over more than two years, found that Oklahoma retains just 47.2% of its STEM degree completers, with 17% leaving for Texas.
The report outlines three priorities: investing in innovation and research partnerships, retaining talent by aligning education and workforce programs with tech employers, and leading in future industries like AI and energy technology. That last piece matters here in southwest Oklahoma, where energy is a way of life and tech and energy tech employment has been declining for five years.
The alliance plans to work with lawmakers on the recommendations, which sets up a likely debate over incentives and workforce spending. Business and university leaders say the state needs one coordinated strategy to compete with Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri. For local families, the stakes are simple: whether the next generation can build a career close to home. What would make you want to stay, or come back?
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