Employment

Shannon County had a civilian labor force of 3,910 people in November 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of this total, 531 people, or 13.6 percent, were identified as unemployed. In 2009, more than 85 percent of workers with jobs were employed by government. For an in-depth economic profile of Shannon County, visit the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development.

The chart below shows the unemployment rate over the past decade for Shannon county, along with a line showing the average during this time, as recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The unemployment rate is defined as the number unemployed as a percent of the labor force. Persons 16 years and older who had no employment during the reference week, were available for work (except for temporary illness) and had made specific efforts to find employment, are classified as unemployed. For more information, see http://bls.gov/lau/.

Another way to explore the types of jobs in a particular area in the Black Hills region is to compare the number of jobs to the number of people employed. The higher the ratio of jobs to employed persons, the more common part-time employment is in this county. The chart below shows the movement in both these numbers, as well as a visual comparison of the difference between “employment” and “all employees.” These data come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Employment” is an establishment-level indicator of a paid position covered by state and federal unemployment insurance programs (and collected by the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages). “All Employees” is a household-level indicator of the number of actively employed persons during a period of time, estimated from the Bureau of Labor Statistics from American Community Survey Data. For more information, see http://www.bls.gov/lau/laumthd.htm and http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cewqtr.tn.htm.

In terms of economic recovery, the widget below shows the funds flowing into Shannon county from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

   Income & Wages

Below is a chart showing the average weekly wages in Shannon county over the past decade, as recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These data are recorded quarterly. For a snapshot of the changes in wages (preliminary estimates) over the most recent period, please refer to http://beta.bls.gov/maps/cew/us.

Below is a chart showing an alternate measure of income, the average annual pay in Shannon county over the same time period. For more information, please visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage program. http://www.bls.gov/cew/

Wages include bonuses, stock options, profit distributions, the cash value of meals and lodging, tips and other gratuities, and, in some states, employer contributions to certain deferred compensation plans such as 401(k) plans.

Economy

   Gross Domestic Product

New capital investment and sources of labor contribute to the growth of the Black Hills economy. Below is a chart showing the labor force in Butte County over the past decade. The shade of the bars indicates the level of business establishments during that year. The darker the bar, the more businesses in the economy. This data has been recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as a part of the Local Area Unemployment Survey.

The term “establishment” refers to the physical location of a certain economic activity—for example, a factory, mine, store, or office. A single establishment generally produces a single good or provides a single service. An enterprise (a private firm, government, or nonprofit organization) can consist of a single establishment or multiple establishments. All establishments in an enterprise may be classified in one industry (e.g., a chain), or they may be classified in different industries (e.g., a conglomerate).

 Agriculture & Resources

Agriculture makes a significant contribution to the Shannon County economy. For information on agricultural production in the area, see the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2007 Census of Agriculture profle for Shannon County below.