March 2026 | Released May 06, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In March, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 14, rose in 10, and remained unchanged in 27.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.3 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In March, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 15. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Tennessee. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Hawaii, Montana, and Oregon.

South Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In March, South Dakota lost 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.3 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota added 200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 1,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, South Dakota’s private sector lost 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in South Dakota fell by 1,014, and over the past 12 months it rose by 62.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.6 percent in March from 67.8 percent and is tied for 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.

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South Dakota

Payroll employment

• South Dakota lost 600 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, South Dakota added 200 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Dakota lost 500 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. 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 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From February 2026 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+700) and Information (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-400).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+3,300) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,100) 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 67.6 percent in March from 67.8 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 69.8 percent in March 2016, and the 10-year low was 67.6 percent in March 2026.

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