April 2026 | Released May 22, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 27.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in North Dakota.

South Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In April, South Dakota added 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.2 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, South Dakota’s private sector added 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in South Dakota fell by 621, and over the past 12 months it fell by 936.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.4 percent in April from 67.6 percent and is tied for 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.

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South Dakota

Payroll employment

• South Dakota added 400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 200 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 27th 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 April. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 100 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, 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 March 2026 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+500) and Financial Activities (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-300) and Federal Government (-200).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,900) and Private Education and Health Services (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,000) and Federal Government (-900).

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 67.4 percent in April from 67.6 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 occurring in April 2016, and the 10-year low was 67.4 percent in April 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.