Marcia Hultman

Cabinet Secretary

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Labor Market Information Center

April South Dakota statewide data just released

Please note: The following data release includes April 2025 seasonally adjusted statewide labor force and both seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted statewide nonfarm data. The full release of April 2025 labor force and not seasonally adjusted nonfarm wage and salaried worker data for all areas will be May 23, with the publication of the May 2025 South Dakota e-Labor Bulletin. April 2025 not seasonally adjusted data will also be available in the virtual labor market data system at that time. The release of April 2025 seasonally adjusted labor force data for the two Metropolitan Statistical Areas is scheduled for May 28, 2025.

Labor Force

Preliminary estimates show South Dakota's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.8% in April 2025. The labor force increased over the month by 700 workers (0.1%) to 493,600 workers. The level of unemployed decreased by 100 (1.1%) to 9,000 persons unemployed.

Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force
	April 2025				March 2025
	Labor Force	Employed	Unemployed	Rate	Labor Force	Employed	Unemployed	Rate
United States	171,109,000	163,944,000	7,165,000	4.2%	170,591,000	163,508,000	7,083,000	4.2%
South Dakota	493,600	484,600	9,000	1.8%	492,900	483,800	9,100	1.8%
*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 April 2025 labor force of 493,600 increased compared to the April 2024 level of 486,300. The level of employed increased by 6,900 (1.4%); the number of unemployed increased by 400 persons (4.7%). The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.8%.

Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force
	April 2025				April 2024
	Labor Force	Employed	Unemployed	Rate	Labor Force	Employed	Unemployed	Rate
United States	171,109,000	163,944,000	7,165,000	4.2%	167,988,000	161,495,000	6,492,000	3.9%
South Dakota	493,600	484,600	9,000	1.8%	486,300	477,700	8,600	1.8%
*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 April 2025 nonfarm worker data is preliminary and subject to revision.

Seasonally Adjusted

The seasonally adjusted nonfarm worker level increased 1,800 workers (0.4%) over the month to 473,600 workers in April 2025. The largest number of workers were added in Leisure and Hospitality (900 workers or 1.8%). Gains in Leisure and Hospitality were spread throughout many establishments in this supersector.

Over the year, the seasonally adjusted nonfarm worker level increased by 6,000 workers (1.3%), reaching 473,600 workers in April 2025. The top contributors to this growth were Construction (2,000 workers or 6.9%) and Health Care and Social Assistance (2,000 workers or 2.8%).

South Dakota (Seasonally Adjusted)
				% Change From
	April* 2025	March 2025	April 2024	Last Month	Last Year
Total Nonfarm	473,600	471,800	467,600	0.4	1.3
Mining, Logging and Construction	32,400	32,300	30,300	0.3	6.9
Mining and Logging	1,300	1,300	1,200	0.0	8.3
Construction	31,100	31,000	29,100	0.3	6.9
Manufacturing	44,100	44,100	45,500	0.0	-3.1
Durable Goods	27,300	27,300	28,300	0.0	-3.5
Non-durable Goods	16,800	16,800	17,200	0.0	-2.3
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	92,500	92,400	92,700	0.1	-0.2
Wholesale Trade	22,600	22,500	22,600	0.4	0.0
Retail Trade	54,100	54,000	53,900	0.2	0.4
Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities	15,800	15,900	16,200	-0.6	-2.5
Information	5,300	5,300	5,200	0.0	1.9
Financial Activities	27,400	27,600	27,500	-0.7	-0.4
Professional and Business Services	38,300	37,900	37,300	1.1	2.7
Private Education and Health Services	80,300	80,000	78,300	0.4	2.6
Private Educational Services	7,500	7,400	7,500	1.4	0.0
Health Care and Social Assistance	72,800	72,600	70,800	0.3	2.8
Leisure and Hospitality	50,900	50,000	50,200	1.8	1.4
Other Services (except Public Administration)	19,200	19,000	18,600	1.1	3.2
Government	83,200	83,200	82,000	0.0	1.5
Federal Government	11,700	11,700	11,800	0.0	-0.8
State Government	19,100	19,000	18,300	0.5	4.4
Local Government	52,400	52,500	51,900	-0.2	1.0
*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 5,000 workers (1.1%), reaching 469,700 workers in April 2025. Leisure and Hospitality had the largest over-the-month increase with the addition of 1,900 workers (4.1%). Gains in Leisure and Hospitality are typical this time of year as many establishments start building their workforce to prepare for a rise in visitors in the summer.

Over the year, the not seasonally adjusted worker level increased by 5,300 (1.1%) to 469,700 workers in April 2025. The largest number of workers were added within Health Care and Social Assistance (1,900 workers or 2.7%) and Construction (1,700 workers or 6.0%).

South Dakota (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
				% Change From
	April* 2025	March 2025	April 2024	Last Month	Last Year
Total Nonfarm	469,700	464,700	464,400	1.1	1.1
Mining, Logging and Construction	31,200	29,500	29,400	5.8	6.1
Mining and Logging	1,300	1,200	1,200	8.3	8.3
Construction	29,900	28,300	28,200	5.7	6.0
Construction of Buildings	7,600	7,200	6,800	5.6	11.8
Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	4,600	4,000	4,300	15.0	7.0
Specialty Trade Contractors	17,700	17,100	17,100	3.5	3.5
Manufacturing	44,100	44,200	45,300	-0.2	-2.6
Durable Goods	27,400	27,400	28,200	0.0	-2.8
Non-Durable Goods	16,700	16,800	17,100	-0.6	-2.3
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	91,600	91,100	91,700	0.5	-0.1
Wholesale Trade	22,600	22,300	22,500	1.3	0.4
Retail Trade	53,500	53,300	53,300	0.4	0.4
Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities	15,500	15,500	15,900	0.0	-2.5
Information	5,200	5,300	5,100	-1.9	2.0
Financial Activities	27,200	27,500	27,300	-1.1	-0.4
Professional and Business Services	38,300	37,300	37,200	2.7	3.0
Private Education and Health Services	80,500	80,300	78,600	0.2	2.4
Private Educational Services	8,000	7,900	8,000	1.3	0.0
Health Care and Social Assistance	72,500	72,400	70,600	0.1	2.7
Hospitals	29,100	29,100	28,300	0.0	2.8
Leisure and Hospitality	48,400	46,500	48,600	4.1	-0.4
Other Services (except Public Administration)	19,100	19,000	18,400	0.5	3.8
Government	84,100	84,000	82,800	0.1	1.6
Federal Government	11,600	11,600	11,700	0.0	-0.9
State Government	19,700	19,600	18,800	0.5	4.8
State Government Educational Services	10,000	9,900	9,900	1.0	1.0
Local Government	52,800	52,800	52,300	0.0	1.0
Local Government Educational Services	29,200	29,300	28,800	-0.3	1.4
*Source:* Labor Market Information Center, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

*Note: All April 2025 data in the tables and narrative above is preliminary and subject to revision.

A more comprehensive overview of the labor market in April 2025, including substate labor force and nonfarm industry data, will be available May 23 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.