July 2025

Released August 19, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 6, rose in 15, and remained unchanged in 30.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In July, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Wyoming.

South Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In July, South Dakota lost 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 1.9 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota added 1,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 4,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 1.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 73,000 in July, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, South Dakota’s private sector added 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota added 1,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in South Dakota fell by 722, and over the past 12 months it rose by 3,858.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.7 percent in July from 68.8 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.

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South Dakota

Payroll employment

• South Dakota lost 600 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, South Dakota added 1,100 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 73,000 in July, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Dakota added 600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, South Dakota added 1,000 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 83,000 jobs in July, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From June 2025 to July 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Financial Activities (+400) and Construction (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (-600).

From July 2024 to July 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,600) and Construction (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600).

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 fell to 68.7 percent in July from 68.8 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 69.8 percent occurring in March 2016, and the 10-year low was 68.3 percent occurring in December 2022.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.2 percent in July.