South Dakota’s unemployment rate rises slightly to 4.8 percent in January from prior month

South Dakota’s jobless rate inches up in January

PIERRE, S.D. — The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics says South Dakota’s preliminary January unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, up from 4.7 percent in December 2009.

State Labor Secretary Pam Roberts says that while the jobless rate has held steady, employment opportunities remain limited and businesses are still hurting from the recession.

She says about 9,200 more people are unemployed and looking for work now compared to the same time two years ago, when South Dakota had a thriving economy.