South Dakota Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for South Dakota
Employment Indicators for South Dakota (2024)
Total Employed
461,290
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
64.5 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
7.9%
Entrepreneurship
Government
15.8%
Public Sector
South Dakota Workforce by Sector & Gender

South Dakota Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 297,339 | 64.5% |
| Government | 72,889 | 15.8% |
| Self-Employed | 36,293 | 7.9% |
| Private Non-Profit | 53,819 | 11.7% |
South Dakota Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.35:1 |
| Government | 0.76:1 |
| Self-Employed | 2.22:1 |
South Dakota Employment Trends (2010–2024)

South Dakota Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 64.5% | 15.8% | 7.9% | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 64.7% | 15.7% | 8.0% | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 65.0% | 15.4% | 8.0% | 11.4% |
| 2021 | 65.5% | 15.2% | 7.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020 | 65.6% | 15.5% | 7.9% | 10.6% |
| 2019 | 65.7% | 15.0% | 8.0% | 10.9% |
| 2018 | 65.9% | 14.8% | 7.9% | 11.0% |
| 2017 | 65.8% | 14.9% | 8.1% | 10.9% |
| 2016 | 65.4% | 15.1% | 8.2% | 11.0% |
| 2015 | 64.8% | 15.5% | 8.2% | 11.2% |
| 2014 | 64.2% | 16.0% | 8.4% | 11.2% |
| 2013 | 63.8% | 16.2% | 8.6% | 11.1% |
| 2012 | 63.3% | 16.4% | 8.7% | 11.2% |
| 2011 | 63.5% | 16.3% | 9.0% | 10.8% |
| 2010 | 63.9% | 16.0% | 9.4% | 10.3% |
Employment Sector FAQs for South Dakota
The largest employment sector in South Dakota is Private For-Profit, which employs 64.5% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 461,290 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in South Dakota.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.35:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Yes, the non-profit sector is notable in South Dakota, accounting for 11.7% of all workers.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in South Dakota has shown an increase, moving from 410,156 to 461,290 according to Census Bureau records.