September 2025 | Released December 11, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 10, rose in 21, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent.

• In September, payroll jobs rose in 30 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Alaska, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

South Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In September, South Dakota added 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 4,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 1.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota ranks 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, South Dakota’s private sector added 1,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 1,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in South Dakota fell by 561, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,275.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.4 percent in September from 68.5 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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South Dakota

Payroll employment

• South Dakota added 2,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 900 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota ranks 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Dakota added 1,700 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 1,400 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From August 2025 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-100) and Federal Government (+0).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+1,600) and Construction (+1,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,000) and Federal Government (-400).

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 68.4 percent in September from 68.5 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 rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.