September 2026 | Released October 20, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 18, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 24.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.6 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 4.2 percent.

• In September, payroll jobs rose in 24 states and fell in 25. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Carolina. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Missouri and Wisconsin.

South Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In September, South Dakota lost 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 2.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, South Dakota’s private sector lost 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in South Dakota fell by 1,222, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,151.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.3 percent in September from 66.5 percent and ranks 8th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.9 percentage points.

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South Dakota

Payroll employment

• South Dakota lost 500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 300 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Dakota lost 600 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, South Dakota remained unchanged with 0 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From August 2026 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-400) and Financial Activities (-400).

From September 2025 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+5,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,000) and Professional and Business Services (-1,400).

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 66.3 percent in September from 66.5 percent in the prior month.

• South Dakota ranks 8th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in South Dakota was 69.6 percent occurring in July 2019, and the 10-year low was 66.3 percent in September 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.