Noem’s critics have not wasted any time pointing out that Noem is a fervent ally of President Trump, arguing that Noem’s refusal to shut down the state could lead to devastating consequences.
Multiple experts and economists have also pointed out that the numbers in South Dakota do not tell the whole story. While the state’s jobless rate continues to hover around 3.5%, the measurement itself accounts for individuals who receive benefits, not the total labor force.
It has been suggested that people have fallen through the cracks and have not been accounted for in the state’s statistics.
South Dakota’s unemployment rate, as measured by the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, is currently 7.2% — quite a bit higher than the 3.5% touted by Noem. This figure takes into account people who “do not have jobs, have actively looked for work in the prior four weeks and are currently available for work.” This figure also takes into account those who have been laid off and are waiting to go back to work.
