August 2025

Released September 19, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 12, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In August, payroll jobs rose in 32 states and fell in 18. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Utah. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

South Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In August, South Dakota lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.9 percent. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, South Dakota added 4,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 1.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, South Dakota’s private sector lost 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, South Dakota added 600 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in South Dakota fell by 842, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,339.

• South Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.5 percent in August from 68.7 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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South Dakota

Payroll employment

• South Dakota lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, South Dakota lost 200 jobs. South Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 25th 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 August. In the prior month, South Dakota added 600 jobs. South Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. South Dakota is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From July 2025 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+500) and Construction (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-700) and Leisure and Hospitality (-500).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+1,800) and Construction (+1,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,000) and Federal Government (-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 68.5 percent in August from 68.7 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 69.8 percent occurring in March 2016, 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 62.3 percent in August.