May 2025 | Released June 24, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 24.

• 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 remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 37 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Connecticut.

South Dakota Employment Snapshot

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

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 3,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, South Dakota’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota added 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in South Dakota rose by 275, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,278.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 68.9 percent in May and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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South Dakota Payroll Employment

• South Dakota lost 700 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, South Dakota added 700 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 31st 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 May. In the prior month, South Dakota added 700 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 May, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 32nd 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 May were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (400) and Government (200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality tied with Other Services (-200) and Professional and Business Services (-600).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (1,900) and Government (1,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-100) and Manufacturing (-1,600).

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 remained unchanged at 68.9 percent in May.

• 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 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.