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Marcia Hultman

Cabinet Secretary

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Labor Market Information Center

October South Dakota statewide data just released

Please note: The following data release includes October 2024 seasonally adjusted statewide labor force and both seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted statewide nonfarm data. The full release of October 2024 labor force and not seasonally adjusted nonfarm wage and salaried worker data for all areas will be November 22, with the publication of the November 2024 South Dakota e-Labor Bulletin. October 2024 not seasonally adjusted data will also be available in the virtual labor market data system at that time. The release of October 2024 seasonally adjusted labor force data for the two Metropolitan Statistical Areas is scheduled for Nov. 27, 2024.

Labor Force

Preliminary estimates show South Dakota's unemployment rate decreased 0.1% to 1.9% in October 2024. The labor force increased over the month by 1,100 workers (0.2%) to 485,100 workers. The level of unemployed decreased by 300 (3.2%) to 9,200 persons unemployed.

Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force
  October 2024   September 2024
Labor Force Employed Unemployed Rate Labor Force Employed Unemployed Rate
United States 168,479,000 161,496,000 6,984,000 4.1% 168,699,000 161,864,000 6,834,000 4.1%
South Dakota 485,100 475,900 9,200 1.9% 484,000 474,600 9,500 2.0%
Source: Labor Market Information Center, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

South Dakota's October 2024 labor force of 485,100 increased compared to the October 2023 level of 481,800. The level of employed increased by 4,100 (0.9%); the number of unemployed decreased by 800 persons (8.0%). The unemployment rate decreased 0.2% to 1.9%.

Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force
  October 2024   October 2023
Labor Force Employed Unemployed Rate Labor Force Employed Unemployed Rate
United States 168,479,000 161,496,000 6,984,000 4.1% 167,723,000 161,280,000 6,443,000 3.8%
South Dakota 485,100 475,900 9,200 1.9% 481,800 471,800 10,000 2.1%
Source: Labor Market Information Center, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The unemployment rate represents the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labor force. People are classified as unemployed if they do not have jobs, have actively looked for work in the prior four weeks and are currently available for work. People who were not working and were waiting to be recalled to jobs from which they were temporarily laid off are also included as unemployed.

Note: 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.

Nonfarm wage & salaried workers

The October 2024 nonfarm worker data is preliminary and subject to revision.

Seasonally Adjusted

The seasonally adjusted nonfarm worker level increased 2,100 workers (0.4%) over the month to 469,700 workers in October 2024. This growth is a result of gains in Construction (700 workers or 2.3%), Leisure and Hospitality (600 workers or 1.2%), and Professional and Business Services (300 workers or 0.8%).

Over the year, the seasonally adjusted nonfarm worker level increased by 3,700 workers (0.8%), climbing to 469,700 workers in October 2024. The top three contributors to this growth were Construction (2,000 workers or 6.9%), Government (1,600 workers or 2.0%), and Health Care and Social Assistance (1,400 workers or 2.0%).

 

South Dakota
(Seasonally Adjusted)
  % Change From
  October*
2024		 September
2024 		October
2023		 Last
Month		 Last
Year
Total Nonfarm 469,700 467,600 466,000 0.4 0.8
 Mining, Logging and Construction 32,200 31,500 30,300 2.2 6.3
   Mining and Logging 1,200 1,200 1,300 0.0 -7.7
   Construction 31,000 30,300 29,000 2.3 6.9
 Manufacturing 43,800 43,900 45,400 -0.2 -3.5
   Durable Goods   26,400 26,600 28,600 -0.8 -7.7
   Non-durable Goods 17,400 17,300 16,800 0.6 3.6
 Trade, Transportation and Utilities 92,700 92,500 92,400 0.2 0.3
   Wholesale Trade 22,500 22,500 22,300 0.0 0.9
   Retail Trade 54,300 54,300 54,100 0.0 0.4
   Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities 15,900 15,700 16,000 1.3 -0.6
 Information 5,100 5,000 5,200 2.0 -1.9
 Financial Activities 26,800 26,800 27,900 0.0 -3.9
 Professional and Business Services 38,000 37,700 37,200 0.8 2.2
 Private Education and Health Services 78,800 78,700 77,300 0.1 1.9
   Private Educational Services  7,800 7,800 7,700 0.0 1.3
   Health Care and Social Assistance 71,000 70,900 69,600 0.1 2.0
 Leisure and Hospitality 50,700 50,100 50,100 1.2 1.2
 Other Services (except Public Administration) 18,200 18,200 18,400 0.0 -1.1
Government 83,400 83,200 81,800 0.2 2.0
  Federal Government 11,700 11,700 11,600 0.0 0.9
  State Government 18,500 18,500 18,200 0.0 1.6
  Local Government 53,200 53,000 52,000 0.4 2.3
Source: Labor Market Information Center, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The table above shows the seasonally adjusted data. A table displaying the not seasonally adjusted data can be found below. Visit our technical notes page for an explanation of seasonal adjustment.

Not Seasonally Adjusted

Over the month, the not seasonally adjusted nonfarm wage and salaried worker level increased 1,900 workers (0.4%), reaching 473,200 workers in October 2024. Government had the largest over-the-month gain, adding 1,000 workers (1.2%). Gains in State and Local Government Educational Services accounted for the growth within Government.

Over the year, the not seasonally adjusted worker level increased by 3,900 (0.8%) to 473,200 workers in October 2024. The largest number of workers were added within Construction (2,300 workers or 7.6%), Government (1,700 workers or 2.0%), and Health Care and Social Assistance (1,400 workers or 2.0%).

South Dakota
(Not Seasonally Adjusted)
    % Change From
October*
2024		 September
2024 		October
2023		 Last
Month		 Last
Year
Total Nonfarm 473,200 471,300 469,300 0.4 0.8
 Mining, Logging and Construction 33,700 33,700 31,500 0.0 7.0
  Mining and Logging 1,200 1,200 1,300 0.0 -7.7
  Construction 32,500 32,500 30,200 0.0 7.6
   Construction of Buildings 7,900 7,900 7,400 0.0 6.8
   Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 5,800 5,800 5,300 0.0 9.4
   Specialty Trade Contractors 18,800 18,800 17,500 0.0 7.4
 Manufacturing 43,600 43,700 45,300 -0.2 -3.8
   Durable Goods 26,300 26,400 28,500 -0.4 -7.7
   Non-Durable Goods 17,300 17,300 16,800 0.0 3.0
 Trade, Transportation and Utilities 92,500 91,600 92,100 1.0 0.4
   Wholesale Trade 22,500 22,300 22,300 0.9 0.9
   Retail Trade 53,900 53,600 53,600 0.6 0.6
   Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities 16,100 15,700 16,200 2.5 -0.6
 Information 5,100 5,000 5,200 2.0 -1.9
 Financial Activities 26,700 26,600 27,900 0.4 -4.3
 Professional and Business Services 38,400 38,100 37,700 0.8 1.9
 Private Education and Health Services 79,300 78,700 77,800 0.8 1.9
   Private Educational Services  8,400 7,900 8,300 6.3 1.2
   Health Care and Social Assistance 70,900 70,800 69,500 0.1 2.0
     Hospitals 28,900 28,700 28,200 0.7 2.5
 Leisure and Hospitality 50,500 51,600 49,900 -2.1 1.2
 Other Services (except Public Administration) 18,400 18,300 18,600 0.5 -1.1
Government 85,000 84,000 83,300 1.2 2.0
  Federal Government 11,700 11,800 11,600 -0.8 0.9
  State Government 19,300 19,200 19,000 0.5 1.6
     State Government Educational Services 10,100 9,700 10,000 4.1 1.0
  Local Government 54,000 53,000 52,700 1.9 2.5
     Local Government Educational Services 29,800 28,200 28,700 5.7 3.8
Source: Labor Market Information Center, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

*Note: All October 2024 data in the tables and narrative above is preliminary and subject to revision.

A more comprehensive overview of the labor market in October 2024, including substate labor force and nonfarm industry data, will be available November 22 in the South Dakota e-Labor Bulletin published on this website. To view the current e-Labor Bulletin, click on the large "e" on our home page or subscribe to receive an email notice when a new edition is available.