Department of Numbers

Rapid City, South Dakota Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rapid City fell 0.0 percentage points in March 2012 to 4.2%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the South Dakota rate. The unemployment rate in Rapid City peaked in November 2009 at 5.3% and is now 1.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 4.2% in January 2012, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Rapid City unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2012 Month/Month Year/Year
National 8.2% -0.1 -0.7
South Dakota 4.3% 0.0 -0.6
Rapid City 4.2% 0.0 -0.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2012 data as April metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Rapid City, South Dakota, National

Rapid City, South Dakota monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Rapid City, South Dakota Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Rapid City peaked in December 2009 at 3,539. There are now 702 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,823 in January 2012, the number of unemployed has now grown by 14. Rapid City employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rapid City, South Dakota) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2012 Month/Month Year/Year
Rapid City 2,837 +14 -404

Number of Unemployed Persons

Rapid City, South Dakota Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
South Dakota
Unemployment Rate
Rapid City
Unemployment Rate
Rapid City
Unemployed
April
2012
8.1% 4.3%
March
2012
8.2% 4.3% 4.2% 2,837
February
2012
8.3% 4.3% 4.2% 2,823
January
2012
8.3% 4.2% 4.2% 2,823
December
2011
8.5% 4.3% 4.4% 2,941
November
2011
8.7% 4.3% 4.5% 3,038
October
2011
8.9% 4.4% 4.8% 3,186
September
2011
9.0% 4.5% 4.9% 3,262
August
2011
9.1% 4.6% 5.0% 3,302
July
2011
9.1% 4.6% 4.9% 3,250
June
2011
9.1% 4.7% 4.9% 3,236
May
2011
9.0% 4.8% 4.8% 3,222
April
2011
9.0% 4.8% 4.9% 3,255

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.