May 2026 | Released June 23, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

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

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 13. The largest payroll job percent increase was 1.4 percent in West Virginia. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Montana.

South Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In May, South Dakota added 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.1 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 1,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, South Dakota’s private sector added 1,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota added 200 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in South Dakota fell by 385, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,761.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.3 percent in May from 67.4 percent and ranks 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.

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South Dakota

Payroll employment

• South Dakota added 1,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 100 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Dakota added 1,400 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, South Dakota added 200 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From April 2026 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-200) and State and Local Government (+0).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,600) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900) and Federal Government (-800).

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 67.3 percent in May from 67.4 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 69.7 percent occurring in May 2016, and the 10-year low was 67.3 percent in May 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.