%@ Page Language="C#" %> Labor Market Information Center - Pandemic Picture

Marcia Hultman

Cabinet Secretary

Font Size: A A A

Labor Market Information Center

Pandemic Picture: Impacts on the Labor Market

The following is a look back at how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted South Dakota's labor economy, using the following key data sets.

By March 2022, trends in each of these data sets showed South Dakota had recovered from the pandemic's impacts. In each case, March 2022 employment levels were as high or even higher than they were when the pandemic struck. This Pandemic Picture page was archived at that point and has not been updated since. If you have questions or would like similar information, please contact us.

Labor Force

Updated monthly; last updated April 22, 2022.

Line graph of South Dakota monthly labor force, employment and unemployment levels in 2020, to illustrate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • By March 2022, the unemployment rate in South Dakota was back to pre-pandemic levels at 2.5%.
  • South Dakota's labor force and employment each grew by more than 13,000 from March 2020 when the pandemic first struck to March 2022.

Read more analysis of labor force data during the pandemic in South Dakota. Monthly labor force data can be found in the virtual labor market data system using the link and instructions available from our Labor Force menu page.


Nonfarm Wage & Salaried Workers by Industry

Updated monthly; last updated April 22, 2022.

Line graph of monthly statewide nonfarm wage and salaried worker levels in 2020, to show impact of COVID-19 pandemic
  • The March 2022 estimates showed South Dakota establishments had more than recouped (101.2%) the workforce they had when the pandemic struck in March 2020.
  • The pandemic's greatest impact on South Dakota nonfarm worker levels occurred from March to April 2020, with an unprecedented drop of 41,900 workers (9.5%).
  • Nonfarm employment began bouncing back quite sharply from April to October 2020. Although the rate of then growth slowed and there were even a few slight month-to-month declines, the overall trend was upward--back to and exceeding pre-pandemic worker levels.

Read more analysis of nonfarm worker data during the pandemic in South Dakota. Monthly nonfarm worker data can be found in the virtual labor market data system using the link and instructions available from our Nonfarm Workers menu page

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Updated quarterly; last updated April 28, 2022.

Line graph of South Dakota Monthly Employment from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

  • While employment levels started out strong in early 2020 before the pandemic hit South Dakota, employers reported nearly 34,000 fewer workers in April than for March.
  • June 2021 brought the highest monthly employment level recorded since the pandemic struck, nearly reaching a historical high of 442,632. Although employment declined slightly after that, QCEW data for March 2022 still indicated South Dakota had rebounded from the pandemic's greatest blows. The December 2021 (most current data available) worker level of 435,500 was 103.5% of the March 2020 level.
  • COVID-19's impact on the total number of establishments reporting employment and wages was not nearly as severe overall as on employment levels. In fact, the reported number of establishments reached a historical high of 37,634 in the fourth quarter of 2021.

South Dakota
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Month
Employment
January 2020 420,694
February 2020 421,268
March 2020 420,863
April 2020 387,234
May 2020 402,494
June 2020 415,888
July 2020 418,700
August 2020 422,802
September 2020 422,468
October 2020 426,022
November 2020 422,981
December 2020 423,927
January 2021 412,387
February 2021 413,202
March 2021 417,392
April 2021 425,468
May 2021 434,662
June 2021 442,632
July 2021 439,781
August 2021 440,118
September 2021 435,729
October 2021* 436,832
November 2021* 435,846
December 2021* 435,495
Actual Change
from March 2020 to Most Current Data
14,632
Percent Change
from March 2020 to Most Current Data
3.5%
*Preliminary data; subject to revision.
Source: Labor Market Information Center, SD Department of Labor and Regulation in cooperation with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

South Dakota Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Month Number of Establishments Average
Employment
Average
Weekly
Wages
First Quarter 2020
(January through March)
34,642 420,942 $901
Second Quarter 2020 (April through June) 34,659 401,872 $912
Third Quarter 2020
(July through September)
35,166 421,323 $918
Fourth Quarter 2020
(October through December)
35,501 424,310 $1,048
First Quarter 2021
(January through March)
35,646 414,327 $932
Second Quarter 2021
(Apri through June)
36,284 434,254 $936
Third Quarter 2021
(July through September)
36,990 438,543 $965
Fourth Quarter 2021*
(October through December)
37,618 436,058 $1,108
Actual Change
from First Quarter 2020 to Fourth Quarter 2021
2,976 15,116 $207
Percent Change
from First Quarter 2020 to Fourth Quarter 2021
8.6% 3.6% 23.0%
*Preliminary data; subject to revision.
Source: Labor Market Information Center, SD Department of Labor and Regulation in cooperation with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Learn more about the QCEW program and the availability of data since the pandemic began.