Labor Market Information Center

2023 Annual Report

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Summary of 2023 Trends

Number of Covered Workers

The number of employees covered by unemployment insurance in 2023 was 452,693 workers. This represents an increase of 2.1% from 2022. This chart indicates nine supersectors showed worker gains while two supersectors decreased during 2023. The Trade, Transportation, and Utilities supersector had the highest number of workers mainly because retail trade has a high average number of employees. In 2023 the number of covered wage and salaried workers equaled 96.0% of South Dakota's wage and salaried workers. Covered workers are counted at their place of work. A person who works for more than one covered employer is counted at each job.

Percentage change in employment of South Dakota covered workers by industry sector from 2022 to 2023

Average Number of Covered Workers by Ownership and Supersector
	2022	2023	Percent Change
Private Ownership
Natural Resources and Mining	7,869	8,481	7.8%
Construction	26,143	28,154	7.7%
Manufacturing	45,101	45,303	0.4%
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities	88,353	90,936	2.9%
Information	5,233	5,139	-1.8%
Financial Activities	27,536	27,350	-0.7%
Professional and Business Services	36,807	37,238	1.2%
Education and Health Services	71,045	72,218	1.7%
Leisure and Hospitality Services	48,216	49,363	2.4%
Other Services	12,228	12,798	4.7%
Total Private Ownership	368,532	376,980	2.3%
Public Administration
Federal Government	11,205	11,512	2.7%
State Government	14,331	14,479	1.0%
Local Government	49,125	49,721	1.2%
Total Government	74,661	75,712	1.4%
Statewide Total	443,194	452,693	2.1%
Data subject to revision. Produced by the Labor Market Information Center, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Annual Pay of Covered Workers

Annual pay reflects total compensation paid to covered workers in the form of wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, and overtime pay during the year. Annual pay is calculated by dividing total payroll by the average number of workers. The statewide annual pay for workers covered by unemployment insurance for 2023 was $56,067. This represents an increase of 3.7% from 2022.

Annual pay is affected by the number of hours worked and the rate of pay. Full-time workers normally have higher annual pay than part-time workers do. Many of the industries with the lowest annual pay have a sizable percentage of part-time jobs. Industry specific annual pay is determined by the mix of full-time and part-time workers and high-paying and low-paying jobs. The Leisure and Hospitality supersector had the lowest industry annual pay of $22,805 in 2023, because these types of businesses typically hire many part-time workers. Federal government workers had the highest annual pay at $81,594.

Annual Pay of Covered Workers by Ownership and Supersector
Private Ownership	2022	2023	Percent Change
Natural Resources and Mining	$52,839	$55,282	4.6%
Construction	$58,955	$63,962	8.5%
Manufacturing	$59,036	$61,351	3.9%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	$49,518	$51,095	3.2%
Information	$64,244	$68,104	6.0%
Financial Activities	$77,445	$80,562	4.0%
Professional and Business Services	$75,636	$75,555	-0.1%
Education and Health Services	$61,521	$63,171	2.7%
Leisure and Hospitality Services	$21,763	$22,805	4.8%
Other Services	$41,695	$44,637	7.1%
Total Private Ownership	$54,750	$56,558	3.3%
Public Administration
Federal Government	$76,642	$81,594	6.5%
State Government	$58,390	$63,325	8.5%
Local Government	$42,409	$44,322	4.5%
Total Government	$50,614	$53,624	5.9%
Statewide Total	$54,053	$56,067	3.7%

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Marcia Hultman

Cabinet Secretary