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Labor Market Information Center

Economic Snapshot


South Dakota and United States Labor Force
Seasonally Adjusted

October
2026		 September
2026		 October
2025		 Percent Change
Last
Month		 Last
Year
United States
Labor Force 170,683,000 170,262,000 N/A 0.2% N/A
Employment 163,615,000 163,152,000 N/A 0.3% N/A
Unemployment 7,068,000 7,109,000N N/A -0.6% N/A
Unemployment Rate 4.1% 4.2% N/A    

September
2026		 August
2026		 September
2025		 Percent Change
Last
Month		 Last
Year
South Dakota
Labor Force 484,700 485,900 493,700 -0.2% -1.8%
Employment 475,100 476,300 483,300 -0.3% -1.7%
Unemployment 9,600 9,600 10,400 0.0% -7.7%
Unemployment Rate 2.0% 2.0% 2.1%    
South Dakota Nonfarm Wage and Salary Employment
Seasonally Adjusted
  September
2026		 August
2026		 September
2025		 Percent Change
Last
Month		 Last
Year
Total Nonfarm 470,500 471,000 468,700 -0.1% 0.4%
Mining, Logging and Construction 31,600 31,700 30,700 -0.3% 2.9%
  Mining and Logging 1,200 1,200 1,100 0.0% 9.1%
  Construction 30,400 30,500 29,600 -0.3% 2.7%
Manufacturing 43,800 44,000 44,100 -0.5% -0.7%
  Durable Goods 27,400 27,500 27,500 -0.4% -0.4%
  Non-Durable Goods 16,400 16,500 16,600 -0.6% -1.2%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 90,700 90,500 92,700 0.2% -2.2%
  Wholesale Trade 22,600 22,500 22,200 0.4% 1.8%
  Retail Trade 52,600 52,500 54,100 0.2% -2.8%
  Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities 15,500 15,500 16,400 0.0% -5.5%
Information 4,800 4,800 5,000 0.0% -4.0%
Financial Activities 27,100 27,500 27,300 -1.5% -0.7%
Professional and Business Services 35,900 36,100 37,300 -0.6% -3.8%
Private Education and Health Services 81,600 82,000 80,300 -0.5% 1.6%
  Private Educational Services 7,700 8,100 7,700 -4.9% 0.0%
  Health Care and Social Assistance 73,900 73,900 72,600 0.0% 1.8%
Leisure and Hospitality 55,700 55,100 50,600 1.1% 10.1%
Other Services (except Public Administration) 18,700 18,800 18,700 -0.5% 0.0%
Government 80,600 80,500 82,000 0.1% -1.7%
  Federal Government 10,600 10,600 11,400 0.0% -7.0%
  State Government 18,500 18,300 18,400 1.1% 0.5%
  Local Government 51,500 51,600 52,200 -0.2% -1.3%
Preliminary data; subject to revision. The published unemployment rate presented above may not equal the percentage calculated using the published unemployed and labor force figures presented above due to rounding. Data for October 2025 are not available due to the federal government shutdown at that time.
Source: Labor Market Information Center, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



South Dakota Metro Area Labor Force
Seasonally Adjusted
  September
2026		 August
2026		 September
2025		 Percent Change
Last
Month		 Last
Year
Rapid City Metropolitan Statistical Area
Labor Force 79,900 80,200 81,600 -0.4% -2.1%
Employment 78,300 78,600 79,900 -0.4% -2.0%
Unemployment 1,600 1,600 1,700 0.0% -5.9%
Unemployment Rate 2.0% 2.0% 2.1%    
Sioux Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area
Labor Force 176,600 177,100 178,800 -0.3% -1.2%
Employment 173,100 173,600 175,100 -0.3% -1.1%
Unemployment 3,500 3,500 3,700 0.0% -5.4%
Unemployment Rate 2.0% 2.0% 2.1%    
Preliminary data; subject to revision. The published unemployment rate presented above may not equal the percentage calculated using the published unemployed and labor force figures presented above due to rounding.
Source: Labor Market Information Center, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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