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Overview of the labor market in March

Labor Supply

The number of South Dakotans who would be available to staff a new or expanding business, or South
Dakota's labor supply, was estimated at 68,545 in March 2012. Included in this labor supply are those who currently hold jobs (and would like to change) and those who, for a variety of reasons, do not have jobs.

The following map shows labor supply estimates by county.

South Dakota Labor Supply
March 2012

Labor Force

This data is seasonally adjusted.

Preliminary estimates show the March 2012 South Dakota labor force decreasing over the month, with the level of employed decreasing by 700 (0.2 percent), and the level of unemployed increasing by 200 (1.0 percent).

Nationally, the unemployment rate for March was little changed from February at 8.2 percent, as was the number of unemployed persons (12.7 million).

South Dakota's March 2012 labor force of 448,800 increased compared to the March 2011 level. The level of unemployed decreased by 2,600 (11.8 percent) to 19,400; the level of employed increased by 5,200 persons (1.2 percent).

South Dakota Unemployment Rates by County
Not seasonally adjusted
March 2012

Notes about labor force data

The unemployment rate represents the number of unemployed as a percent of the labor force. People are classified as unemployed if they do not have jobs, have actively looked for work in the prior four weeks and are currently available for work. People who were not working and were waiting to be recalled to jobs from which they were temporarily laid off are also included as unemployed.

Labor force estimates for South Dakota are produced by the Labor Market Information Center in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The concepts and definitions underlying the labor force data come from the Current Population Survey (CPS), the household survey which is the official measure of the labor force for the nation. The statewide estimate of the number of nonfarm jobs is a component of the model used to produce the labor force estimates. Other data used in this model include the number of continued unemployment insurance claims and survey data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) which is specific to the state.

Although state specific data is used in the production of the labor force estimates for South Dakota, the state monthly model estimates are controlled in "real time" to sum to national monthly labor force estimates from the CPS. Therefore, variation in the estimates of the employed and unemployed are somewhat controlled by what is happening nationally. (See methodology.)

South Dakota Nonfarm Wage & Salaried Workers by Industry

This data is not seasonally adjusted.

Over-the-month comparisons

Based on a monthly survey of South Dakota establishments, the preliminary total nonfarm worker level for March 2012 is 398,400. Compared to the revised February 2012 estimate of 396,400, the worker level increased by 2,000 (0.5 percent) over the month. Worker gains are typical for this time period. (See table of related data.)

Within the private industry sectors, the professional and business services industry sector added the most jobs (800 workers or 2.8 percent), followed by leisure and hospitality (600 workers or 1.6 percent).

The mining, logging and construction also added 600 (3.6 percent), a seasonal gain which is well within historical patterns derived from previous February to March employment level changes. Traditionally, seasonal gains within South Dakota nonfarm employment start in February and continue through June, with May being the peak of over-the-month percentage gains.

Other services had the largest over-the-month loss of 700 workers (4.5 percent). This industry includes a variety of establishments which offer an array of services, such as repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, and private household services such as house cleaning. The majority of losses were centered within the personal and laundry services subsector.

Over-the-year comparisons

Total nonfarm wage and salaried workers increased by 1,600 (0.4 percent) when comparing the March 2012 worker level of 398,400 to the March 2011 level of 396,800.

The professional and business services industry sector added 1,700 workers (6.1 percent). Demand continues from other industries which utilize these services to supply temporary workers as needed to assist with business operations.

Educational and health services added 1,600 workers (2.5 percent). Most of this gain is attributable to growth and expansion within the health care industry.

Leisure and hospitality dropped by 2,100 workers (5.3 percent). The losses within this industry sector were shared by both subsectors within this industry, including the arts, entertainment and recreation and the accommodation and food services subsectors. Losses were likely related to the altered seasonal employment patterns corresponding to the earlier transition of winter into spring this year.

Find nonfarm worker data for areas within South Dakota.

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See more information on the Current Employment Statistics (CES) Program, including definitions and an important notice about the current production of nonfarm wage and salaried statistics.