South Dakota Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in South Dakota account for 10.30% of the total output in the state, employing 10.11% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $5.31 billion in 2018. In addition, there were an average of 44,000 manufacturing employees in South Dakota in 2018, with an average annual compensation of $56,999.52 in 2017.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2018)
$5.31
(Percent share of total gross state product)
10.30%
Manufacturing Firms in South Dakota (2016)
947

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2018)
44,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
10.11%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2017)
$56,999.52
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2017)
$38,142.61

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau

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South Dakota Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive South Dakota’s economy, with $1.32 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2018. That same year, $0.93 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 17.10% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 75.00% percent of all exporters in South Dakota.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2018)
$1.32
(Percent share of total goods exports)
92.14%
Growth in Manufactured Goods Exports (2010–2018)
14.34%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
6,950
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
17.10%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
75.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2018)
$0.93
(Percent of total exports, 2018)
70.26%
Total Manufactured Goods Exports to Canada and Mexico (NAFTA, 2018)
$0.85
Top Five Export Markets (Percent of total manufactured goods exports, 2018)
63.97%
Canada
42.20%
Mexico
21.77%
Japan
4.03%
Germany
3.61%
China
3.05%

Sources: International Trade Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

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Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased nearly 49 percent ($679.46 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2018 – even though these countries represent only six percent of the world’s population and 10 percent of GDP.
  • FTA countries: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, Singapore and South Korea.