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South Dakota e-Labor Bulletin

September 2026

South Dakota Occupational Employment Projections to 2034

As mentioned in an earlier e-Labor Bulletin article, South Dakota Industry Trends to 2034, South Dakota’s employment is projected to increase by 7.4% overall during the 2024-2034 decade, adding approximately 38,500 new jobs to the state’s economy. While that article focused on employment projections by industry (where people work), this article will focus on employment projections by occupation (what people do on the job). Specifically, we will explore the 10 occupations projected to show the fastest growth in South Dakota to 2034.

South Dakota and U.S. Employment Snapshot for 2024-2034

U.S. occupational employment is projected to increase by 3.1% from 2024-2034, from 170 million jobs in 2024 to 175.2 million by 2034.

South Dakota’s occupational growth is projected to be much faster than the nation’s 3.1% for the 2024-2034 decade at 7.4%. The Labor Market Information Center (LMIC) released projections for 585 detailed occupations. Employment for 508 occupations is projected to increase or remain the same, while 77 occupations are projected to decline.

LMIC completed the 2024-2034 statewide projections using the nationally adopted projections methodology, which allows for comparability of this data across states, as well as the nation. This methodology incorporates historical time-series employment data as well as state and national economic trends and utilizes a variety of statistical models.

Let’s look at the expected changes in occupational employment levels over the 2024–2034 decade and the trends expected to drive those changes. Many of these occupations have a high concentration of employment in specific industries. Therefore, the trends expected to affect employment in those industries largely drive the employment changes projected across these occupations. However, the employment outlook for occupations can also be influenced by factors specific to an occupation or by trends affecting other industries in which the workers in the occupation are employed.

Projections methodologies are heavily based on historical relationships in the data. Nevertheless, LMIC also researches additional factors expected to affect employment, such as new technologies and legislation. The analysis below reflects the research used when developing and validating these projections.

Occupational projections start at a macro level. There are two factors that affect the employment change of an occupation:

  1. Changes in industry employment. This is easy to understand. If an industry’s employment grows or contracts, the number of workers within the industry will increase or decrease.
  2. Changes in the mix of occupations (commonly referred to as staffing patterns) in an industry. This factor is a bit more complicated and requires more research and analysis. This often includes examining historical staffing pattern data and analyzing factors that may have affected the mix of occupations within the given industry.

There are also micro-level factors which are weighted and included when developing occupational projections. Some of the more common micro-level considerations are demographics, technology, replacement of one product or service for another, outsourcing and organizational restructuring, and legislative and political reconstruction. Many of the occupations on South Dakota’s top 10 fastest-growing list are growing due to one or more of these micro-factors.

South Dakota’s Top 10 Fastest-Growing Occupations to 2034

The table below features the 10 occupations projected to grow the fastest by 2034. The narrative following the table explores some reasons for the growth.

South Dakota Occupational Employment Projections 2024-2034
Top Ten Fastest Growing Occupations
Rank Occupational Title 2024 Employment 2034 Employment Numeric Change Percent Change
  Total, All Occupations 523,468 562,027 38,559 7.4%
1 Wind Turbine Service Technicians 230 364 134 58.3%
2 Nurse Practitioners 959 1,423 464 48.4%
3 Data Scientists 284 387 103 36.3%
4 Information Security Analysts 364 485 121 33.2%
5 Physician Assistants 598 784 186 31.1%
6 Actuaries 111 145 34 30.6%
7 Nurse Anesthetists 389 500 111 28.5%
8 Medical and Health Services Managers 1,146 1,465 319 27.8%
9 Industrial Machinery Mechanics 1,273 1,622 349 27.4%
10 Ophthalmic Medical Technicians 442 557 115 26.0%
Data is preliminary and subject to revision.
Fastest growing occupations are defined as those occupations with employment of 100 or more workers in 2024 and the highest percent change in employment from 2024 to 2034.
Source: Labor Market Information Center, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, July 2026.

We defined the fastest-growing occupations as those with employment of at least 100 during the base year (2024) and the highest percentage employment growth projected for the 2024-2034 period. Please keep in mind, fastest growing does not necessarily equate to the most new jobs. However, because of the role fastest-growing occupations play in the occupational and economic landscape, whether many or few, all occupations are important and noteworthy.

First Glance Impressions

As mentioned above, employment trends in industries are a major driving force in occupational trends as well. You may notice this coming into play in the top 10 fastest-growing occupations list above. Energy, health care, computer, and science-related industry growth are all playing a role in the projected occupational growth.
This is the case not just in South Dakota but nationally as well, especially within the top three fastest-growing occupations.

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

This occupation has been the number one fastest-growing occupation since the 2030 round of projections in South Dakota, and it still holds the number one spot in the 2034 projection period. South Dakota is following the national trend because this occupation also held the fastest-growing spot on the national 2034 projections list. It has been nearly 25 years since the first wind turbines began dotting the South Dakota horizon. “Wind techs” as they are often called, aren’t installing nearly as many new windmills as they used to, because growth in this industry is beginning to level off. Those big fans continue to churn as a much-needed renewable energy source. And as they produce safe and renewable energy, they require the skills of “wind techs” to repair and maintain them for optimum efficiency.

Nurse Practitioners

Nurse practitioners once again took the number two spot in the fastest-growing list in South Dakota (48.4%). However, they slipped a bit from the number two spot to the number three spot at the national level (40.1%) for the 2034 projections cycle. While it still ranked as the second fastest growth rate occupation in South Dakota, it did lose a bit of speed from the 2032 projection round, when it nearly took over the first-place spot from the wind techs. However, this occupation is expected to see fast growth for many years to come. South Dakota’s population is expected to increase and continues to age, resulting in a continued need for medical care. Nurse practitioners will be at the forefront, meeting the state’s need for the best health care possible.

In addition to a growing population as well as a population continuing to age, the state’s medical hubs have and will continue to see phenomenal growth as we work to ensure excellence in healthcare. The state’s mid-sized cities are also experiencing strong growth in the health industry as they become micro-hub medical centers. Even most rural towns across South Dakota have clinics and satellite offices to care for their population. It is not bragging to say South Dakota stands as a beacon of what the rural tapestry of health care can look like.

In a state where her residents work and play hard, accidents and illness happen. In the past, geographical distance inherent in our rural state impeded timely emergency treatment and health care. Our pioneering spirit and forward thinking fueled more infrastructure and technology to improve South Dakota’s health care for all citizens, regardless of where they live. We found ways our small hospitals, clinics, and satellite offices can treat patients for serious, and sometimes life-threatening accidents, conditions, and diseases, right where they live.

Today, a patient in Geddes, South Dakota can meet with a nurse practitioner who is a part of a much bigger network of doctors, surgeons, and specialists available for virtual consultation or a follow-up in-person appointment as needed. Some of the health care professionals on the team are several states away or even in a different country. While technology makes this “virtual medical team” approach to diagnosis and treatment possible, patients are often able to remain in their own home or community health facility. Remaining near family and friends and in familiar surroundings, thanks to the nurse practitioners who make this possible.

Whether it is setting a broken bone or helping someone dealing with a terminal illness, nurse practitioners are the ones in the trenches administering the care and supporting their patients’ needs, when and where they need it. Because of the vital role this occupation plays in South Dakota’s health care industry, it is likely we will see this occupation grace the top 10 list for many years to come.

Data Scientists

Coming in at number three are data scientists. The 2032 projections round was the first time this occupation made it on the top 10 list, and this occupation is showing no sign of slowing down as they analyze, graph, and project their way into the third fastest occupational growth rate for the 2034 projections cycle as well, increasing 36%. This is a good example of a relatively small occupation that will see significant growth and notoriety over the next 10 years. As the amount of data and the need to analyze that data continues to increase, this emerging occupation will become more commonplace in South Dakota. This occupation is also projected to see fast growth, coming in at number four on the nation’s fastest-growing list (expected to see a 34% increase) during the same period.

These workers develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information. They use data-oriented programming languages and visualization software to apply data mining and modeling to extract and analyze information for large structured and unstructured datasets. They provide users with a visual report of data findings through the dynamic data reports they create.

Information Security Analysts

In the number four position on the fastest-growing list for the 2034 projections period is information security analysts, which are expected to see a 33% employment increase in South Dakota. This is a slightly faster increase than nationally (29%) for the same round of projections.

Information security analysts plan, implement, upgrade, and/or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. They assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. They ensure appropriate security controls are in place to safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. They also respond to computer security breaches and viruses. They have many different job titles, such as information security officers, information security specialists, information systems security analysts, and network security analysts, to name just a few.

As cyber-attacks and data breaches continue (and hackers get increasingly sharper and more devious), these workers will be working behind the scenes to keep our state and the nation moving forward and functioning safely.

Physician Assistants

Rounding off the top five fastest-growing occupations is physician assistants, where employment is expected to increase by 31%. This occupation is projected to grow faster in South Dakota than nationally, where its 22% growth ranks it seventh place for fastest-growing occupations during the 2034 round of projections.

Physician Assistants provide health care services typically performed by a physician. They conduct complete physical exams, provide treatment, and counsel patients. They also may prescribe medication. Like nurse practitioners, physician assistants fill gaps in medical services for physicians and/or surgeons. Many of the reasons for the projected growth in this occupation are the same as those for nurse practitioners because they perform the same medical services, and their skill sets and role in the bigger healthcare picture are very similar.

Actuaries

New to South Dakota’s top 10 fastest-growing occupations list are actuaries. This occupation is expected to see fast growth in South Dakota at just over 30%. Nationally, actuaries are seeing rapid job growth too and are projected to see growth of over 22% through 2034. Businesses increasingly rely on data-driven insights to navigate complex, modern risks like climate change, cyber threats, and evolving healthcare systems. In their daily work, actuaries use advanced mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to measure the probability of future uncertain events, such as accidents or natural disasters. By analyzing these risks, they help insurance companies and financial institutions design stable policies, set profitable pricing premiums, maintain adequate cash reserves, and advise corporate leaders on strategic financial planning.

Nurse Anesthetists

Jumping up in the rank for the 2034 round of projections are nurse anesthetists. They came in at number seven and are projected to increase at a respectable rate of 28%. These workers are an integral part of the health care team. They administer anesthesia, monitor patients' vital signs, and oversee patients’ recovery from anesthesia. They may assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, physicians, or dentists. They must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education. These workers are found in more than just hospitals or surgical centers, and as people live longer and have access to more types of insurance (such as dental insurance and broader medical insurance coverage), more procedures every year are being performed under general or local anesthesia. More demand for procedures increases the demand for nurse anesthetists.

Medical and Health Services Managers

Given the continued growth projected for South Dakota’s health services industry, it is not surprising our number eight spot on the fastest-growing occupations list is held by the medical and health services managers occupation. This is a large occupation and is projected to see fast growth of nearly 28% for the 2034 projections forecast in South Dakota. This rate will slightly outpace the nation’s growth, which is 23%.

The health care industry is seeing an uptick in new and/or expanding facilities in a variety of areas across the state. These services are needed to specialize in a specific branch of medicine or health care or to assist in the care of specific segments of our society, such as specialized care facilities for the aging, or those with chronic, debilitating, or terminal medical conditions.

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Industrial machinery mechanics moved into the number nine spot in the 10 fastest-growing list for South Dakota. These workers maintain and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery, such as conveying systems, production machinery, and packaging equipment. They keep machines in working order by detecting and correcting issues and errors before they become a problem or the machine and/or product it produces is damaged. This occupation is projected to continue to see swift growth of more than 27% in the 2034 round of projections.

The continuing adoption of automated manufacturing will require more industrial machinery mechanics to keep machines in working order. The use of automated conveyors to move products and materials through warehouses and factories is an area of high demand for skilled machinery mechanics. As production and warehousing equipment is designed to perform more tasks and become more computerized and automated, these workers’ skills will remain in high demand.

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Rounding off South Dakota’s top 10 fastest-growing list for the 2034 round of projections at 26% is ophthalmic medical technicians.

This expected growth will be driven by the state’s continued population increases and the graying of its Baby Boomer generation. More workers in this occupation are expected to be needed because of the state’s demand for complex eye care to manage age-related conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. These workers free up optometrists and ophthalmologists to deal with the more technical aspects of a patient’s eye care because they fill the gap by acting as "physician extenders" to maximize daily clinic capacity. These technicians operate specialized diagnostic machinery to measure visual acuity, record eye pressure (tonometry), map corneal curvature, and document detailed patient medical histories. They also directly prepare patients for examinations, administer topical eye medications, instruct individuals on corrective lens care, and assist ophthalmologists during minor clinical or surgical procedures.

Want more information?

Employment projections through 2034 for 585 detailed occupations are available on our website from the Occupational Projections menu. For more background information about the projections, please visit our Projections Technical Notes page. Contact us with questions or for assistance as needed.