States · South Dakota

South Dakota Economy — Live Data

How is the economy doing in South Dakota? Unemployment is at 2.1%, below the national rate of 4.2%. As one of the key economies in the Upper Midwest, South Dakota leans on financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Below: live jobs, housing, and income data from FRED and the BLS.

Unemployment Rate
2.1%
▼ Below US average (4.2%)
Nonfarm Jobs
471K
→ +0.3% jobs YoY
House Prices (YoY)
+4.2%
▲ Rising
Per-Capita Income
$79K
▲ +5.0% vs prior year
South Dakota vs. United States — Unemployment
South Dakota
2.1%
United States
4.2%

South Dakota is outperforming the national labor market. Unemployment of 2.1% is 2.1 points below the US rate — a sign of relative strength in local hiring.

Jobs & Output
Nonfarm payrolls
471K
Job growth (YoY)
+0.3%
Real GDP (2025)
$59B
GDP growth (YoY)
+1.4%

Payrolls are monthly (BLS); GDP and income are annual (BEA). Key sectors in South Dakota: financial services, agriculture, and tourism.

What this means if you live or work in South Dakota
💼
Job market
With unemployment below the national average, employers in South Dakota are competing for workers — leverage for job seekers and wage pressure for businesses.
🏠
Housing
House prices are rising moderately (+4.2% YoY) — a balanced market by recent standards.
💵
Income
Per-capita personal income in South Dakota is $79,297, up 5.0% from the prior year. Compare against national inflation to gauge real purchasing power.
🏭
Key industries
South Dakota's economy leans on financial services, agriculture, and tourism — sector-specific national trends (energy prices, rates, consumer spending) hit this state through those channels first.
Key Numbers — South Dakota
Unemployment2.1%
US unemployment4.2%
Nonfarm jobs471K
House prices YoY+4.2%
Per-capita income$79,297
Real GDP$59B
Labor data as ofMay 2026
Nearby States
North Dakota economy → Nebraska economy → Minnesota economy → Montana economy → All 50 states →
National Data
US labor market → US housing data → US inflation → Full dashboard →

Data: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis) — series SDUR, SDNA, SDSTHPI, SDPCPI, SDRGSP — plus BLS and BEA. Live values load on page open; figures shown are the most recent official releases. Not financial advice.