Feb 11, 2015

There are two major elements to look at when examining a state’s state and local Government workforce—the number of employees and the level of their pay. In this analysis, each element is measured relative to the national average and summed together to obtain an overall measure of workforce productivity. Based on this state and local Government Workforce productivity index, South Dakota has the eighteenth most productive state and local government workforce in the country.

Click here to view our full government workforce data app with details by state, by County, level of government, and over time.

In 2016, #SouthDakota had the 18th most productive state and local #government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #SDpol #SDleg #SDsen #SDgov (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, South Dakota employed 18.2 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is 16 percent above the national average of 15.7 and is the 14th highest ratio in the country.

In 2016, #SouthDakota state & local #government employed 18.2 for every 100 employed in private sector—the 14th highest ratio in the country and 16% above US average of 15.7 http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #SDpol #SDleg #SDsen #SDgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, South Dakota’s employment ratio has been decreasing. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio decreased by -40 percent to 18.2 in 2016 from 30.5 in 1969. This is in contrast to the national average which increased by 2 percent to 15.7 in 2016 from 15.4 in 1969.

As shown in Chart 3, for state and local government compensation in 2016, government employees earned 7 percent more than those in the private sector (compensation ratio) which is -52 percent lower than the national average of 14 percent and is the 16th lowest compensation ratio in the country.

In 2016, #SouthDakota state & local #government compensation was 7% higher than in the private sector—the 16th lowest ratio in the country and -52% below US average of 14% http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #SDpol #SDleg #SDsen #SDgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, South Dakota’s compensation ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio increased by 11 percentage points to 7 percent in 2016 from -4 percent in 1969. This is a slower growth rate than the national average which increased by 15 percentage points to 14 percent in 2016 from -1 percent in 1969.

As shown in Chart 5, both wages and salaries and benefits contribute to South Dakota’s lower than average government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, South Dakota employees earn -14 percent less than those in the private sector which is the 9th lowest wages and salaries ratio in the country and significantly lower than the national average of -8 percent.

For state and local benefits in 2016, South Dakota employees earn 105 percent more than those in the private sector which is -18 percent lower than the national average of 127 percent and is the 25th highest benefit ratio in the country.

Click here to view our full government workforce data app with details by state, by county, level of government, and over time.

Of course, efficiency for local government helps to be measured on a more local scale. As such, we have also calculated the employment and compensations ratios of local government workers for every county in South Dakota.

The South Dakota counties with the highest local government employment ratios include (state average is 13.0):

• Todd County, SD (295.3)
• Buffalo County, SD (258.4)
• Pennington County, SD (237.7)
• Corson County, SD (225.7)
• Mellette County, SD (169.4)
• Dewey County, SD (163.2)
• Ziebach County, SD (109.1)
• Lyman County, SD (76.1)
• Sanborn County, SD (60.9)
• Bennett County, SD (57.6)

The South Dakota counties with the lowest local government employment ratios include (state average is 13.0):

• Jerauld County, SD (9.8)
• Grant County, SD (9.8)
• Perkins County, SD (9.4)
• Davison County, SD (9.4)
• Lawrence County, SD (8.9)
• Brown County, SD (8.6)
• Yankton County, SD (8.1)
• Union County, SD (7.8)
• Lincoln County, SD (7.5)
• Minnehaha County, SD (6.2)

The South Dakota counties with the highest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 1 percent):

• Jackson County, SD (64 percent)
• Mellette County, SD (58 percent)
• Bennett County, SD (56 percent)
• Pennington County, SD (42 percent)
• Brule County, SD (35 percent)
• Clay County, SD (32 percent)
• Lawrence County, SD (30 percent)
• Lyman County, SD (27 percent)
• Sanborn County, SD (26 percent)
• Hughes County, SD (25 percent)

The South Dakota counties with the lowest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 1 percent):

• Jerauld County, SD (-15 percent)
• Harding County, SD (-16 percent)
• Hanson County, SD (-17 percent)
• Moody County, SD (-18 percent)
• Douglas County, SD (-19 percent)
• Union County, SD (-22 percent)
• Deuel County, SD (-32 percent)
• McPherson County, SD (-42 percent)
• Sully County, SD (-51 percent)
• Campbell County, SD (-52 percent)

Overall, it is South Dakota’s lower than average compensation ratio, driven by both low wages and salaries and benefits, that is responsible for South Dakota having the 18th best state and local government workforce productivity index.

Read more about the "government workforce productivity Index" methodology here.

Click here to view our full government workforce data app with details by state, by county, level of government, and over time.

Finally, don’t forget to watch our exclusive time-lapse video of our state and local government workforce productivity index over the last 47 years! See if your state has been above or below the national average?