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Labor Market Information Center

2023 Annual Report

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Natural Resources & Mining Supersector

The Natural Resources and Mining supersector is made up of the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector and the Mining sector. Businesses in this supersector grow crops, raise livestock or extract natural mineral solids at a mine site, to name just a few examples.

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

NAICS Sector 11

The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector increased 516 workers in 2023 or 7.6% from 2022 for an annual average employment level of 7,303. The annual pay for 2023 was $48,878, an increase of $1,938 or 4.1% compared to 2022.

There are three subsectors under Agriculture that reported gains in workers between 2022 and 2023.

Businesses in Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (NAICS 115) had a 17% gain, followed by Crop Production (NAICS 111) gaining 9.8%, and Animal Production (NAICS 112) gaining 5.3%. Forestry and Logging (NAICS 113) had a decrease of 10 workers, while Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping (NAICS 114) had a decrease of one worker.

The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector had an overall gain in workers and establishments. Actual worker numbers in order of largest to smallest are Animal Production (4,208), Crop Production (2,160), Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (841), Forestry and Logging (90), and Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping (3).

In 2023 all the subsectors showed an annual wage increase except for Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping. Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping showed the only decline. However, there are only three workers contained in that industry and it can be highly volatile. Crop Production (NAICS 111) showed a respectable percent increase with $2,515 or 5.8%. Forestry and Logging (NAICS 113) increased $2,796 or 5.7%, followed by Animal Production (NAICS 112) increasing $1,720 or 3.6%, and lastly Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (NAICS 115) increasing $1,278 or 2.3%.

In the past, worker levels in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (NAICS 11) sector had been decreasing due to consolidations and better technology that make it easier and more efficient to generate higher output. Continued technological advancements in equipment and greater use of chemicals have had a negative impact on the demand for labor in this sector.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), South Dakota farm employment from 1998 to 2008 decreased by 6,311 workers or 16.4%. More recently, the decreases in farm employment have tapered off in South Dakota. Farm employment from 2008 to 2018 showed a slight decrease of 799 workers or 2.5%. Since 2018, farm employment had a slight increase, at 1,507 or 4.8%, bringing the total for 2022 to 32,848 workers. South Dakota is categorized in the Plains Region, where farm employment has also trended upward since 2018 at 0.1%.

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

NAICS Sector 21

The Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction sector increased by 95 workers (8.8%) between 2022 and 2023. This gain brought the total for the entire sector to 1,178 workers. All three subsectors within this sector gained workers. The average annual pay for the sector increased by $5,222 (5.8%), bringing the average annual pay to $94,982 in 2023. This sector ranked third among the higher paying industries. Despite being one of the highest paying industry sectors, it ranks last in number of establishments and employment.

The Oil and Gas Extraction (NAICS 211) subsector is comprised of companies that operate and/or develop oil and gas field properties. Some of the business activities included are exploration for crude petroleum and natural gas, drilling, constructing wells, operating separators, emulsion breakers, delisting equipment, and all other activities in the preparation of oil and gas up to the point of shipment from the producing property. This subsector’s establishment numbers remained unchanged, and the number of workers showed a slight increase. Employment has increased by one worker (4.2%), and the number of establishments remained at two. Annual pay increased $14,569 or of 13.4% over the year. This industry is very small, so a small increase has a bigger impact on percentages. This subsector also has many jobs that are temporary.

The Mining (Except Oil & Gas) subsector (NAICS 212) added 47 workers (5.5%). This subsector includes activities such as mining, mine site development, and beneficiating (i.e., preparing) metallic minerals and nonmetallic minerals, including coal. Over the past year, one establishment was added, bringing the total to 53 businesses. The annual pay increased to $79,630, which is an increase of $5,482 or 7.4% compared to 2022.

Support Activities for Mining (NAICS 213) gained 48 workers (23.5%). The increase brought the worker level in this subsector to 252 workers in 2023. This subsector provides support services, on a contract or fee basis, required for mining and quarrying of minerals and for the extraction of oil and gas. Establishments performing exploration (except geophysical surveying and mapping) for minerals on a contract or fee basis are included in this subsector. Exploration includes traditional prospecting methods, such as taking core samples and making geological observations at prospective sites. Annual pay showed a decrease of $6,210 or 4.1% over the previous year. A small subsector such as this can be highly volatile and can change drastically from season to season. One employer opening or closing can highly impact percentages. Two of the subsector’s employment levels are under 260 workers, so a gain or a loss of just one establishment can have a large effect on annual pay and employment percentages.

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