April 2025 | Released May 21, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 5, rose in 20, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 40 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

South Dakota Employment Snapshot

• In April, South Dakota added 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.8 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota added 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 6,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, South Dakota’s private sector added 1,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota added 400 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in South Dakota rose by 777, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,889.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate rose to 68.9 percent in April from 68.8 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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South Dakota Payroll Employment

• South Dakota added 1,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, South Dakota added 400 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. South Dakota is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• South Dakota added 1,800 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, South Dakota added 400 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 167,000 jobs in April, 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.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during April were Leisure and Hospitality (900) and Professional and Business Services (400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Mining and Logging tied with Manufacturing; and Information; and Government (0) and Financial Activities (-200).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction tied with Education and Health Services (2,000) and Government (1,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-200) and Manufacturing (-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 rose to 68.9 percent in April from 68.8 percent in the prior month.

• South Dakota ranks 4th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in South Dakota was 69.9 percent in April 2015, and the 10-year low was 68.3 percent occurring in December 2022.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in April.