South Dakota seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate drops to 4.7 percent in April

PIERRE, S.D. – The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports South Dakota’s preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April 2010 was 4.7 percent, down slightly from the March 2010 rate of 4.8 percent.

“The number of job openings in South Dakota continues to grow,” said State Labor Secretary Pam Roberts. “This week we have reached 8,000 openings for the first time since one year ago.”

The industries adding the most positions in April included mining, logging and construction; professional business services; and leisure and hospitality.

“Hiring has increased across the state as employers become more optimistic,” said Secretary Roberts.

The April 2009 South Dakota unemployment rate was 4.9 percent. However, the unemployment rate for April 2008 was only 2.7 percent, reflective of an economy which had not yet been impacted by the national recession.

Nationally, the unemployment rate increased from 9.7 percent in March 2010 to 9.9 percent in April 2010.

An overview of the sub-state labor market and snapshot of South Dakota’s economy will be released May 28 in the e-Labor Bulletin. This publication and information on workforce services is available at www.sdjobs.org.

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