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 South Dakota's Rocking the Job Market!

Hey, guess what? While the rest of the country is seeing unemployment creep up to 4.3% in August 2025 (just a bit higher than July's 4.2%), South Dakota is absolutely crushing it with the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at just 1.9%!

So what's going on elsewhere? Well, economists are pointing to a few factors like Trump's tariffs on imported goods, a bunch of public workers getting pink slips, and stricter immigration policies. The Washington D.C. area got hit hardest with 6% unemployment - probably because so many federal workers lost their jobs there.

But back to South Dakota - not only is their unemployment rate 2.4% below the national average, they're also way ahead of their closest competitors (North Dakota and Vermont at 2.5%). What's interesting is that even though the percentage stayed the same from July to August, about 300 more people found themselves unemployed.

Things vary pretty dramatically across the state though. Some counties like Hamlin, Aurora, and Stanley are doing amazing with just 1.5% unemployment. But others are struggling - Oglala Lakota (6.5%), Dewey (6.8%), Corson (6.9%), and Todd counties (7.2%) are facing tougher times.

So what's keeping South Dakota's economy humming? Tourism is huge! In 2024, nearly 15 million people visited the Mount Rushmore State, dropping about $5.1 billion - a new record! The hospitality industry added 800 jobs that year.

In August 2025, government jobs grew by about 400 positions (mostly in education), and professional services added 500 workers. But it wasn't all good news - manufacturing lost 300 jobs, and banks and financial institutions shed another 300 positions.

Oh, and if you're thinking about retiring? South Dakota might be your golden ticket! It's super affordable with a cost of living score of 89.3 (below the national average of 100), plus there's no state income tax. They even skip sales tax on prescriptions and some medical devices - making it a paradise for budget-conscious seniors!