Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area

Centered around Oklahoma’s capital and a historically-significant crossroads, the Oklahoma City metropolitan area forms a tight cluster of communities in the middle of the state. Often simply dubbed “The Metro” by locals, the area’s population of about 1.4 million occupies seven counties. These include Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, and Oklahoma County.

Still a hub for the livestock industry, the economy of the Oklahoma City metro today is robust and welcoming to businesses in other sectors such as healthcare, energy, and IT. Major employers in the region include Chesapeake Energy, Love’s Travel Stops, and Sonic Drive-In Restaurants. 

A center for economic opportunity in in a largely-agricultural Plains state linked to the greater region by I-35, the Oklahoma City metro entices commuters. Jobseekers hungry for fresh opportunities stream into the city from their home counties. 

This arrangement creates a unique situation for businesses based within the metro area. A flow of newcomers into the region means that it is easier to fill open positions and identify talented individuals suitable for demanding job roles. However, businesses also encounter a greater volume of unsuitable candidates—and distinguishing the two can prove a challenge.

A background check is an important component in narrowing the field. Operating in a metropolitan zone enhances the importance of employing a robust, in-depth vetting policy. Consider this: if your business is based in Oklahoma County and only ever searches applicant records held there, you will have to make hiring decisions based on a highly limited, localized view of each candidate’s background. Casting a wider net by searching in all the counties in the metro area can yield a more complete picture, which enables smarter, safer hiring choices.

With that understanding, it’s wise to take a closer look at your current procedures to determine how best to adapt them to responsible metro-area operations. As you do so, always review applicable rules and regulations governing the use of background checks in your area. 

Oklahoma does little to restrict the ability of an employer to vet prospective employees. No ban the box rules for private employers exist, and only expunged records are excluded from examination. Though background checks typically do not report non-conviction-related arrests, Oklahoma allows for their consideration. In the absence of further regulations, employers should still be aware of their obligations under federal law, including the guidelines of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Ready to take the next step towards strengthening your hiring processes and identifying better candidates? backgroundchecks.com offers a range of powerful tools designed to aid businesses like yours. Instant results for a criminal record search are available for the Oklahoma City metro, including Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, and Oklahoma counties. A state-level check allows you to broaden your search to include all of Oklahoma, while a regional US OneSEARCH gives you access to the entire region with results from five states of your choosing.

These reports collect data from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (updated monthly), the state sex offender registry (updated bi-weekly), and county-level courts (updated monthly). Criminal history reports may include a subject’s:

• Name and date of birth
• Case number
• Offense
• Offense date

For businesses in and around Oklahoma City, a metro-wide background check policy is an essential modern tool. Discover the improvements that you can make to your vetting strategy with these valuable services.