December 2025 | Released January 27, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 21, and remained unchanged in 22.

• 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 4.4 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 23 states and fell in 27. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Delaware and Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Kansas and Nebraska.

South Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In December, South Dakota lost 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.2 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 1,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 2,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 1.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. South Dakota ranks 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, South Dakota’s private sector lost 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in South Dakota rose by 41, and over the past 12 months it rose by 432.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 68.3 percent in December and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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South Dakota

Payroll employment

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

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. South Dakota ranks 24th 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 December. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 700 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From November 2025 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+700) and Private Education and Health Services (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900) and Professional and Business Services (-300).

From December 2024 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-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 remained unchanged at 68.3 percent in December.

• 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 December 2015, and the 10-year low was 68.3 percent occurring in September 2022.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in December.