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News Release Information

24-2538-CHI
Thursday, December 19, 2024

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (312) 353-1138

County Employment and Wages in South Dakota — Second Quarter 2024

South Dakota’s only large county, Minnehaha, reported an employment increase of 1.6 percent from June 2023 to June 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Large counties are the 369 U.S. counties or county equivalents with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.) Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that in June 2024, Minnehaha County’s employment level was 140,700. (See table 1.)

National employment increased 0.8 percent over the year, with 259 of the 355 largest U.S. counties with published data reporting gains. Kings, NY, had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 4.0 percent. Elkhart, IN, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment (-3.0 percent).

Minnehaha County’s employment accounted for 29.9 percent of total employment within the state. Within the county’s private industry, health care and social assistance accounted for the largest employment in June 2024. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprised 73.1 percent of total covered employment in the United States.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 65 counties in South Dakota with employment below 75,000. All 65 smaller counties had wage levels below the national average of $1,390 in the second quarter of 2024. (See table 2.)

Large county wage changes

Minnehaha County’s 3.8-percent wage growth from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024 was less than the national increase of 4.4 percent. Among the 351 largest counties in the United States with published data, 348 had over-the-year wage increases. Hamilton, IN, had the largest percentage wage increase (+33.4 percent). Essex, MA, had the largest over-the-year percentage decrease (-2.1 percent).

Large county average weekly wages

Minnehaha County’s $1,190 average weekly wage ranked 214th among the 360 largest U.S. counties in the second quarter of 2024. Among the largest U.S. counties with published data, 87 reported average weekly wages above the U.S. average in the second quarter of 2024. Santa Clara, CA, had the highest average weekly wage ($3,632). Average weekly wages were below the national average in the remaining 273 counties. Hidalgo, TX, had the lowest average weekly wage ($820).

Smaller county average weekly wages

Among the 65 smaller counties in South Dakota—those with employment below 75,000—Union ($1,276) reported the highest average weekly wage. Jones County ($661) reported the lowest average weekly wage in the state.

When all 66 counties in South Dakota were considered, 23 reported average weekly wages of less than $850, 20 registered wages from $850 to $949, 16 had wages from $950 to $1049, and 7 had average weekly wages of $1,050 or higher. (See map 1.)

Map 1. Average weekly wages by county in South Dakota, second quarter 2024

U.S. average = $1,390

 
Additional statistics and other information

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release or visit the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

The County Employment and Wages release for the third quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. The County Employment and Wages full data update for the third quarter 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Table 1. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and the largest county in South Dakota, second quarter 2024
AreaEstablishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
June 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)
Second quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level (3)
Percent change,
second quarter
2023–24 (2)
National ranking
by percent change (3)

United States (4)

12,238.2155,710.20.8--1,390--4.4--

South Dakota

40.2470.30.7--1,074493.837

Minnehaha

10.0140.71.6551,1902143.8196

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Percent changes were computed from employment and pay data adjusted for noneconomic county reclassifications.
(3) Ranking does not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(4) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 2. Covered establishments, employment, and wages in the United States and all counties in South Dakota, second quarter 2024
AreaEstablishmentsEmployment June 2024Average weekly wage ($) (1)

United States (2)

12,238,175155,710,2391,390

South Dakota

40,232470,3441,074

Aurora

102845780

Beadle

6948,893941

Bennett

98851819

Bon Homme

2381,807849

Brookings

1,38519,5381,076

Brown

1,51720,3261,011

Brule

2572,104748

Buffalo

27538961

Butte

4763,096828

Campbell

75461776

Charles Mix

3753,810895

Clark

1861,257835

Clay

4696,071922

Codington

1,42717,604973

Corson

67761907

Custer

4233,336855

Davison

83412,644999

Day

2642,017843

Deuel

1981,655936

Dewey

1552,525939

Douglas

1331,083850

Edmunds

1861,252942

Fall River

3512,639941

Faulk

124721784

Grant

3823,9031,009

Gregory

2291,645734

Haakon

111819879

Hamlin

2782,734996

Hand

1711,528799

Hanson

105607965

Harding

69456843

Hughes

94311,1541,162

Hutchinson

3062,845910

Hyde

745371,033

Jackson

81798743

Jerauld

1051,578828

Jones

60419661

Kingsbury

2621,898863

Lake

4915,3491,081

Lawrence

1,63114,087953

Lincoln

2,50930,2591,211

Lyman

1431,431687

McCook

2451,388924

McPherson

98592787

Marshall

2111,759988

Meade

1,0538,7561,042

Mellette

45331712

Miner

107827791

Minnehaha

9,980140,7251,190

Moody

2182,646992

Oglala Lakota

1353,7421,020

Pennington

5,80064,4561,053

Perkins

1361,168784

Potter

146865854

Roberts

3163,627857

Sanborn

88706770

Spink

2752,450940

Stanley

1511,400867

Sully

96727983

Todd

1052,952866

Tripp

2592,400940

Turner

3392,492837

Union

8699,6921,276

Walworth

2532,134827

Yankton

86313,3941,034

Ziebach

292451,044

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

Table 3. Covered establishments, employment, and wages by state, second quarter 2024
StateEstablishments,
second quarter
(thousands)
EmploymentAverage weekly wage (1)
June 2024
(thousands)
Percent change,
June
2023–24
Second quarter
2024 ($)
National ranking
by level
Percent change,
second quarter
2023–24
National ranking
by percent change

United States (2)

12,238.2155,710.20.81,390--4.4--

Alabama

162.92,111.11.21,150363.935

Alaska

25.4345.90.81,345154.517

Arizona

221.33,137.31.11,324184.616

Arkansas

101.71,299.91.01,074494.130

California

1,878.618,193.50.41,69744.420

Colorado

268.92,909.4-0.21,48784.225

Connecticut

151.41,702.20.41,56963.837

Delaware

43.8481.00.91,322195.46

District of Columbia

52.3764.00.12,28314.225

Florida

903.59,700.11.41,278213.643

Georgia

392.24,867.71.21,297204.225

Hawaii

59.6640.90.81,273225.83

Idaho

101.0867.31.21,096485.64

Illinois

410.26,115.50.01,401123.444

Indiana

192.53,187.30.41,171336.42

Iowa

111.31,588.00.21,118453.345

Kansas

100.91,435.80.51,124434.031

Kentucky

157.11,995.91.01,146384.323

Louisiana

155.91,904.30.61,144404.712

Maine

65.7666.11.11,167354.225

Maryland

210.52,778.51.51,45493.837

Massachusetts

287.63,708.10.21,75835.08

Michigan

345.14,480.50.41,266233.935

Minnesota

212.22,985.50.51,359143.345

Mississippi

89.81,163.80.1960514.031

Missouri

245.32,927.10.61,186323.148

Montana

63.3528.81.51,113463.837

Nebraska

77.11,030.90.71,122442.751

Nevada

108.61,548.91.61,243284.517

New Hampshire

66.7699.60.51,443104.031

New Jersey

338.54,361.10.91,51673.345

New Mexico

68.4871.91.21,150364.420

New York

712.79,762.41.31,68754.031

North Carolina

379.64,902.00.91,256254.89

North Dakota

36.5437.41.51,221303.148

Ohio

341.25,558.10.41,214314.712

Oklahoma

129.31,684.70.81,101474.712

Oregon

196.12,019.2-0.11,338164.89

Pennsylvania

393.66,067.50.81,325173.837

Rhode Island

48.8504.71.11,257242.950

South Carolina

188.42,290.11.81,134415.17

South Dakota

40.2470.30.71,074493.837

Tennessee

234.93,287.41.31,248274.225

Texas

840.913,905.71.21,381134.517

Utah

138.21,715.20.81,249265.64

Vermont

32.8310.80.01,227294.323

Virginia

319.94,140.81.41,436114.89

Washington

234.73,674.31.01,77627.41

West Virginia

61.7700.10.61,127424.712

Wisconsin

208.52,990.80.41,168343.742

Wyoming

31.0290.90.51,145394.420

Puerto Rico

54.5944.01.3651(3)4.7(3)

Virgin Islands

3.936.4-0.11,010(3)1.5(3)

Footnotes:
(1) Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
(2) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
(3) Data not included in the national ranking.

Note: Data are preliminary. Covered employment and wages includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.

 

Last Modified Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024