Employment rose 1.0 percent in Minnehaha, the only large county in South Dakota, from March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. South Dakota employment increased 0.2 percent over the year to 451,700 in March 2026, as measured by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. (See table 1.) Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that the rate of employment growth in Minnehaha ranked 57th among the 371 largest U.S. counties with published data.

Employment in Minnehaha stood at 138,500 in March 2026, accounting for 30.7 percent of total employment in South Dakota. Nationwide, the 376 largest counties comprise 73.5 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 2025.)

The average weekly wage in Minnehaha increased 5.1 percent over the year to $1,369. The national average was $1,654, up 3.9 percent over the year. Minnehaha’s weekly wage ranked 195th nationally, and the percent change ranked 64th among the largest U.S. counties.

Statewide, average weekly wages increased 4.2 percent over the year to $1,211. South Dakota ranked 49th in average weekly wages among the 50 states and the District of Columbia and 14th in wage growth.

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 2025. (See table 2.)  Wage levels in all of the smaller counties were below the national average. Union reported the highest average weekly wage ($1,420) in the state. Jones reported the lowest average weekly wage ($675).

Among all 66 South Dakota counties, 9 reported average weekly wages less than $850, 11 had wages from $850 to $924, 18 had wages from $925 to $999, 15 had wages from $1,000 to $1,074, and 13 had average weekly wages of $1,075 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)