December 2024

Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

South Dakota Employment Snapshot

• In December, South Dakota added 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.9 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota lost 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 2.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. South Dakota ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, South Dakota’s private sector added 700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 2,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 1,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in South Dakota rose by 987, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,157.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate rose to 67.7 percent in December from 67.6 percent and ranks 7th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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South Dakota Payroll Employment

• South Dakota added 1,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 600 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. South Dakota ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Dakota added 700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 1,100 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. South Dakota ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Construction (600) and Professional and Business Services (500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-700).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (1,600) and Construction (1,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,800) and Manufacturing (-2,800).

South Dakota Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in South Dakota rose to 67.7 percent in December from 67.6 percent in the prior month.

• South Dakota ranks 7th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in South Dakota was 70.1 percent occurring in January 2015, and the 10-year low was 67.5 percent occurring in September 2024.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.