February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 29.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 23. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Alaska.

South Dakota Employment Snapshot

• In February, South Dakota lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.9 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota added 2,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 6,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 1.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, South Dakota’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota added 2,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in South Dakota rose by 845, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,629.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate rose to 68.8 percent in February from 68.7 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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South Dakota Payroll Employment

• South Dakota lost 300 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, South Dakota added 2,100 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Dakota lost 900 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, South Dakota added 2,200 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 12th 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 February were Government (600) and Other Services (400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,100).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (2,300) and Construction (1,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600) and Manufacturing (-1,300).

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 68.8 percent in February from 68.7 percent in the prior month.

• South Dakota ranks 4th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in South Dakota was 69.9 percent occurring in April 2015, and the 10-year low was 68.3 percent occurring in December 2022.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.