The Tulsa metropolitan area is the economic engine of eastern Oklahoma. Chief industries of the region include energy, aerospace, telecommunications and manufacturing. Energy has long been a dominant player in the area's economy, which is why Tulsa was once dubbed the “Oil Capital of the World.” Today, Fortune 500 energy companies still call the area home.

A majority of American car-rental companies are also headquartered here, such as Thrifty Automotive Group, as are major manufacturing and maintenance operations for the aerospace industry. The Tulsa region boasts the eighth best workforce in aerospace, ninth best in energy and 18th best in telecommunications. In 2001, Tulsa metro's total gross product was in the top one-third of metropolitan areas, states and countries globally, with more than $29 billion in total goods, expected to grow at a rate of nearly $500 million every two years.