June 2025

Released July 18, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 11, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 33.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Alaska. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Rhode Island.

South Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In June, South Dakota added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.8 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 1,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 6,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 147,000 in June, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, South Dakota’s private sector added 1,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 1,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in South Dakota rose by 68, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,429.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 68.8 percent in June and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.

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South Dakota

Payroll employment

• South Dakota added 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 1,500 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 147,000 in June, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Dakota added 1,500 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 1,600 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 74,000 jobs in June, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota ranks 18th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2025 to June 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,600) and Professional and Business Services (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-300).

From June 2024 to June 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,100) and State and Local Government (+2,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500).

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 remained unchanged at 68.8 percent in June.

• 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 62.3 percent in June.