How many jobs were lost in South Dakota last month?
Refreshed monthly
South Dakota lost 1,100 jobs in August 2026, ranking it 39th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 462 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-1.1K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
39th
rank among states in monthly job growth (August 2026)
August 2026's loss of 1,100 jobs was the second consecutive month of negative job growth in South Dakota. Monthly job growth was down from the 100 lost jobs in July 2026.
During the latest five year period (September 2021 to August 2026), South Dakota gained jobs in 36 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the second-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in June 2023 (+2,900) while job growth was weakest in June 2024 (-1,500).
There were 1,100 fewer jobs in August 2026 in South Dakota than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, September 2021–August 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which South Dakota sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in August 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in August 2026 were private educational services, durable goods, and construction. Private educational services added 400 jobs, more than the entire economy. Durable goods gained 200 jobs, while construction added 100. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were transportation, warehousing, and utilities, retail trade, and wholesale trade. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities lost 400 jobs in August 2026, while retail trade lost 400 jobs and wholesale trade lost 300 jobs.
Get weekly insights
Subscribe for data-driven insights. No spin, just the facts.
The health care and social assistance sector gained 100 jobs during August 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in South Dakota (August 2026)
How has South Dakota's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, South Dakota gained an average of 8 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 292, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as 17th-highest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 817 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 942 on average every month in 2023.
In 2025, South Dakota gained an average of 8 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among two metro areas primarily in South Dakota during August 2026 ranged from a loss of 400 jobs in the Sioux Falls, SD area to a gain of 100 jobs in the Rapid City, SD area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within South Dakota
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +100 | |
| 2. | -100 | |
| 3. | -400 |
Keep exploring
Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
