How many jobs were added in South Dakota last month?
Refreshed monthly
South Dakota gained 1,400 jobs in May 2026, ranking it 31st 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 533 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+1.4K
month to month change in number of jobs (May 2026)
31st
rank among states in monthly job growth (May 2026)
South Dakota’s job gain of 1,400 May 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was up from the 100 loss in April 2026.
During the latest five year period (June 2021 to May 2026), South Dakota gained jobs in 38 out of 60 months. May 2026 had the 12th-highest 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 1,400 more jobs in May 2026 in South Dakota than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, June 2021–May 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which South Dakota sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in May 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in May 2026 were construction, retail trade, and health care and social assistance. Construction added 700 jobs, more than the entire economy. Retail trade gained 500 jobs, while health care and social assistance added 200. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
Get weekly insights
Subscribe for data-driven insights. No spin, just the facts.
The health care and social assistance sector gained 200 jobs during May 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in South Dakota (May 2026)
How does South Dakota's job growth in 2026 compare to previous years?
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 2024. 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 1,100 on average every month in 2022.
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 May 2026 ranged from a gain of 300 jobs in the Sioux Falls, SD area to a gain of 300 jobs in the Rapid City, SD area metro 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. | +300 | |
| 2. | +300 | |
| 3. | -200 |
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.
