June 2026 | Released July 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

South Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In June, South Dakota added 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota added 1,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 2,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, South Dakota’s private sector lost 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota added 1,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in South Dakota fell by 868, and over the past 12 months it fell by 3,127.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 67 percent in June from 67.3 percent and is tied for 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.2 percentage points.

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South Dakota

Payroll employment

• South Dakota added 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, South Dakota added 1,500 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Dakota lost 200 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, South Dakota added 1,400 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+400) and State and Local Government (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-300) and Construction (-200).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+3,200) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,000) and Federal Government (-700).

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 67 percent in June from 67.3 percent in the prior month.

• South Dakota is tied for 5th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in South Dakota was 69.7 percent in June 2016, and the 10-year low was 67 percent in June 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.