January 2026 | Released April 08, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

South Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In January, South Dakota lost 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.2 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota added 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota lost 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, South Dakota’s private sector lost 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota added 200 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in South Dakota fell by 787, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,799.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 68 percent in January from 68.1 percent and ranks 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 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 January. In the prior month, South Dakota added 100 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Dakota lost 400 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, South Dakota added 200 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From December 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+700) and Manufacturing (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500) and Leisure and Hospitality (-300).

From January 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+3,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,100).

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 percent in January from 68.1 percent in the prior month.

• South Dakota ranks 5th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in South Dakota was 69.8 percent occurring in January 2016, and the 10-year low was 67.9 percent in March 2024.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.