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South Dakota Economy

Unemployment was 2.0% in Sep 2026, the 1st lowest of 51 states. Personal income averages $75,699 per person.

Unemployment rate
2.0%
-0.1 pts in a year
Labor force
484,677
-1.8% in a year
Income per person
$75,699
BEA, 2024
Average annual pay
$60,575
QCEW, 2025

Unemployment rate in South Dakota

Monthly, seasonally adjusted, compared with the U.S.

South DakotaUnited States
Show as a table
PeriodSouth Dakota
Sep 20262.0%
Dec 20252.2%
Dec 20241.9%
Dec 20231.8%
Dec 20221.9%
Dec 20212.0%
Dec 20203.0%
Dec 20192.6%
Dec 20182.7%
Dec 20173.0%
Dec 20163.1%
Dec 20152.8%
Dec 20143.2%
Dec 20133.5%
Dec 20123.9%
Beta

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics ยท Last updated 09/01/2026

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Counties in South Dakota

Unemployment (Sep 2026, not seasonally adjusted), income per person (BEA) and average pay (QCEW). Largest labor force first.

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#CountyUnemployment1 yearLabor forceIncome per personAverage pay
1Minnehaha County1.6%-0.2 pts118,504$78,658$66,906
2Pennington County1.7%-0.1 pts59,596$78,464$59,768
3Lincoln County1.6%-0.1 pts43,069$91,853$69,490
4Brookings County1.4%-0.3 pts19,652$66,775$58,550
5Brown County1.6%-0.2 pts19,549$79,984$56,565
6Codington County1.5%-0.2 pts16,496$71,817$54,666
7Meade County1.7%-0.2 pts16,279$59,066$59,192
8Lawrence County1.6%-0.2 pts15,698$78,616$50,959
9Yankton County1.7%-0.1 pts11,980$74,264$57,446
10Davison County1.5%-0.2 pts10,754$72,648$57,416
11Hughes County1.5%-0.1 pts9,060$74,747$64,159
12Union County1.8%0.0 pts8,975$146,712$74,563
13Beadle County1.6%-0.2 pts8,733$64,412$53,994
14Clay County1.5%-0.3 pts8,179$51,050$50,529
15Lake County1.5%-0.1 pts6,509$103,883$59,153
16Butte County1.4%-0.3 pts5,496$55,658$47,766
17Turner County1.5%-0.2 pts4,850$91,710$48,470
18Roberts County2.1%-0.4 pts4,664$58,604$47,899
19Custer County1.8%-0.1 pts4,557$72,654$50,345
20Charles Mix County1.6%-0.2 pts3,993$56,278$50,931
21Grant County1.6%-0.4 pts3,977$77,092$56,495
22Hutchinson County1.2%-0.3 pts3,948$73,663$50,555
23Hamlin County1.2%-0.1 pts3,670$70,519$58,566
24Oglala Lakota County3.4%-1.3 pts3,627$38,762$52,383
25Moody County1.5%-0.5 pts3,354$71,846$55,560
All 66 counties, A to Z

Jobs and pay by industry in South Dakota

Private employers, annual average 2025 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

IndustryJobs1-year changeAverage pay
Health care and social assistance71,670+1.7%$70,688
Retail trade53,919-0.3%$38,524
Manufacturing44,307-1.7%$66,214
Accommodation and food services42,594+0.2%$24,044
Wholesale trade22,330-0.9%$85,911
Professional and technical services18,420+0.7%$91,897
Administrative and support services13,743+0.3%$51,307
Other services13,396+1.3%$48,582
Arts, entertainment and recreation8,176+4.3%$24,911
Management of companies5,248-1.0%$122,524
Educational services3,996+2.3%$36,405

Government employs 11,378 people (2.5% of all jobs): 11,378 federal, - state and - local.

Output and businesses in South Dakota

Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau

GDP
$76.8B
2024, current dollars
Real GDP growth
+0.8%
Adjusted for inflation
Employer businesses
29,106
383,805 employees
  • Retail trade3,83813.2%
  • Construction3,80213.1%
  • Other services2,98610.3%
  • Health care and social assistance2,8299.7%
  • Accommodation and food services2,6969.3%
  • Professional and technical services2,2147.6%
  • Finance and insurance2,0447.0%
  • Wholesale trade1,5925.5%
  • Real estate and rental1,3564.7%
  • Administrative and support services1,3504.6%

Source: BEA Regional Economic Accounts; Census County Business Patterns 2023

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Frequently asked questions

What is the unemployment rate in South Dakota?
South Dakota's unemployment rate was 2.0% in Sep 2026, seasonally adjusted, compared with 4.2% for the U.S.
Which county in South Dakota has the highest unemployment?
Todd County has the highest rate at 4.0%, and Hamlin County has the lowest at 1.2% (not seasonally adjusted).
What is the largest industry in South Dakota?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private employer with 71,670 jobs, followed by retail trade (53,919) and manufacturing (44,307).
What is the average salary in South Dakota?
The average annual pay for jobs covered by unemployment insurance in South Dakota was $60,575 in 2025, or $1,165 a week.
How big is South Dakota's economy?
South Dakota's GDP was $76.8B in 2024, about $83,052 per resident.