Employment rose 0.3 percent in South Dakota’s only large county, Minnehaha, from December 2024 to December 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the rate of employment growth in Minnehaha ranked 125^th among the 366 largest U.S. counties with published data. (See table 1.)

Employment in Minnehaha stood at 140,300 in December 2025, accounting for 30.6 percent of total employment in South Dakota. Nationwide, the 372 largest counties comprise 73.4 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 2024.)

The average weekly wage in Minnehaha increased 3.7 percent over the year to $1,350. The national average was $1,569, up 4.2 percent over the year. Minnehaha’s weekly wage ranked 203^rd nationally, and the percent change ranked 232^nd among the largest U.S. counties.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 65 smaller counties in South Dakota, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2024. (See table 2.) Wage levels for 64 of the 65 smaller counties were below the national average. Union reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,603) in the state. Jones reported the lowest average weekly wage ($719).

Among all 66 South Dakota counties, 8 reported average weekly wages of less than $900, 14 had wages from $900 to $999, 18 had wages from $1,000 to $1,099, 17 had wages from $1,100 to $1,199, and 9 had average weekly wages of $1,200 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)