Department of Numbers

Rapid City, South Dakota Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Rapid City rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 2.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the South Dakota rate. The unemployment rate in Rapid City peaked in April 2020 at 11.0% and is now 9.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 1.7% in April 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Rapid City unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
South Dakota 1.9% 0.0 -0.3
Rapid City 2.0% +0.1 -0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October 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 April 2020 at 8,230. There are now 6,639 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,396 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 195. Rapid City employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Rapid City, South Dakota) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Rapid City 1,591 +61 -158

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
October
2023
3.9% 2.0%
September
2023
3.8% 1.9% 2.0% 1,591
August
2023
3.8% 1.9% 1.9% 1,530
July
2023
3.5% 1.9% 1.9% 1,494
June
2023
3.6% 1.8% 1.8% 1,454
May
2023
3.7% 1.9% 1.8% 1,428
April
2023
3.4% 1.9% 1.7% 1,396
March
2023
3.5% 1.9% 1.8% 1,444
February
2023
3.6% 2.1% 2.0% 1,562
January
2023
3.4% 2.1% 2.0% 1,620
December
2022
3.5% 2.2% 2.2% 1,708
November
2022
3.6% 2.2% 2.2% 1,713

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.