Employment rose 1.9 percent in South Dakota’s only large county, Minnehaha, from December 2023 to December 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Acting Regional Commissioner Julie Wilson noted that the rate of employment growth in Minnehaha ranked 30^th among the 363 largest U.S. counties with published data. (See table 1.)

Employment in Minnehaha stood at 140,200 in December 2024, accounting for 30.5 percent of total employment in South Dakota. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprise 73.3 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.)

The average weekly wage in Minnehaha increased 3.1 percent over the year to $1,306. The national average was $1,507, up 5.0 percent over the year. Minnehaha’s weekly wage ranked 197^th nationally, and the percent change ranked 291^st among the largest U.S. counties.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 65 small counties in South Dakota, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2023. (See table 2.) Wage levels for 64 of the 65 smaller counties were below the national average. Union reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,531). Jones reported the lowest average weekly wage ($708) in the state.

Among all 66 South Dakota counties, 16 reported average weekly wages of less than $925, 19 registered wages from $925 to $1,024, 15 had wages from $1,025 to $1,124, and 16 had average weekly wages of $1,125 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)