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South Dakota
ENERGY AND EMPLOYMENT — 2020Overview
South Dakota has an average concentration of energy employment, with
9,745 Traditional Energy workers statewide (representing 0.3 percent of
all U.S. Traditional Energy jobs). Of these Traditional Energy workers,
3,007 are in Electric Power Generation, 3,077 are in Fuels, and 3,661 are inTransmission, Distribution, and Storage. The Traditional Energy sector inSouth Dakota is 2.2 percent of total state employment (compared to 2.3
percent of national employment). South Dakota has an additional 7,628
jobs in Energy Efficiency (0.3 percent of all U.S. Energy Efficiency jobs)
and 9,362 jobs in Motor Vehicles (0.4 percent of all U.S. Motor Vehiclejobs).
Figure SD-1.
Employment by Major Energy Technology Application
10,000

9,362

9,000

8,531
7,496 7,628

8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000

3,673 3,661
2,993 3,007

2,835

3,077

2,000
1,000
Electric Power
GenerationFuels

Transmission, Energy Efficiency
Distribution, andStorage
2018

Motor Vehicles

2019

Overall, Traditional Energy jobs grew by 2.6 percent since the 2019 report,
increasing by 244 jobs over the period. Energy Efficiency jobs added 132
jobs (1.8 percent) and motor vehicles added 831 jobs (9.7 percent).

SD — 1U S E N E R G Y + E M P L O Y M E N T R E P O R T 2 0 2 0 | South Dakota

Breakdown by Technology Applications
ELECTRIC POWER GENERATIONElectric Power Generation employs 3,007 workers in South Dakota, 0.3
percent of the national total and adding 13 jobs over the past year (0.4percent). Wind makes up the largest segment of employment related toElectric Power Generation, with 1,486 jobs (down -1.0 percent), followedby solar at 613 jobs (up 4.9 percent).
Figure SD-2.
Electric Power Generation Employment by Detailed Technology Application
1,486

613

604

Less than 50% solar: 165

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ossil
Fu
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arGe
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Otn
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at
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ene
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le165

33

Majority of +me solar: 448

Construction is the largest industry sector in Electric Power Generation,with 60.6 percent of jobs. Wholesale trade is next with 10.6 percent.
Figure SD-3.
Electric Power Generation by Industry Sector
1,822

202

Utilities

Construction

290

319

Manufacturing

Trade

SD — 2169

203

ProfessionalServices

Other Services

U S E N E R G Y + E M P L O Y M E N T R E P O R T 2 0 2 0 | South Dakota
FUELS
Fuels employs 3,077 workers in South Dakota, 0.3 percent of the nationaltotal, up 8.5 percent over the past year. Petroleum and other fossil fuels
makes up the largest segment of employment related to Fuels.
Figure SD-4.
Fuels Employment by Detailed Technology Application
1,585

921

33
Coal

118

74
Oil & OtherPetroleum

Natural Gas Corn Ethanol Other Ethanol/ Non-woody
Biomass

257
89
Woody
Biomass

Other Fuels

Wholesale trade jobs represent 68.8 percent of Fuels jobs in South Dakota.
Figure SD-5.
Fuels Employment by Industry Sector2,116544
147

60

Agriculture and Mining &Forestry
Extraction

202
8Construction Manufacturing

SD — 3

Trade

Professional Other Services
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TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND STORAGE
Transmission, Distribution, and Storage employs 3,661 workers in South
Dakota, 0.3 percent of the national total, down 0.3 percent or 11 jobs sincethe 2018 report.
Figure SD-6.
Transmission, Distribution and Storage Employment by Detailed Technology2,741589

277
Traditional Transmission
and Distribution

53Storage

Smart Grid

Micro Grid & Other

Utilities are responsible for the largest percentage of Transmission,Distribution, and Storage jobs in South Dakota, with 49.4 percent of suchjobs statewide.
Figure SD-7.
Transmission, Distribution and Storage Employment by Industry Sector
1,810

957
440
110

eline

SD — 4rS

er
vic
es

16

Ot
heionalServic
es

ProfessTr
ansp

ort&Co
mm
odt

Tr
adey…

94PipManufactu
ringru
ct
ion
Co
nst

Utilities235

U S E N E R G Y + E M P L O Y M E N T R E P O R T 2 0 2 0 | South Dakota
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The 7,628 Energy Efficiency jobs in South Dakota represent 0.3 percent ofall U.S. Energy Efficiency jobs, adding 132 jobs (1.8 percent) since last year.
The largest number of these employees work in (traditional HVAC firms,followed by high efficiency HVAC and renewable heating and cooling.
Figure SD-8.
Energy Efficiency Employment by Detailed Technology Application
2,183

2,102
1,666959

Energy Star &Efficient Lighting718Traditional HVACHigh Efficiency & Advanced Materials
Renewable Heating and Insulation& Cooling

Other

Energy Efficiency employment is primarily found in the constructionindustry.
Figure SD-9.
Energy Efficiency Employment by Industry Sector

4,991

908

991

595
144

Construction Manufacturing

Trade

Professional Other Services
Services

SD — 5

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MOTOR VEHICLES
Motor Vehicle employment accounts for 9,362 jobs in South Dakota, up
831 jobs over the past year (9.7 percent). The industry sector that
accounts for the largest fraction of Motor Vehicle jobs is manufacturing.
Figure SD-10.
Motor Vehicle Employment by Industry Sector
3,602
3,188

1,920

549
104
Manufacturing

Trade

Professional
Services

Repair andMaintenanceCommodity Flows

Workforce Characteristics
EMPLOYER GROWTH
Employers in South Dakota are more optimistic to their peers across thecountry in regards to their job growth over the next year in Traditional
Energy (3.8 percent versus 3.2 percent nationally). Energy Efficiency
employers expect to add 243 jobs in Energy Efficiency (3.2 percent) andMotor Vehicles employers expect to add 371 jobs (4.0 percent) over thenext year.
Table SD-1
Projected Growth by Major Technology Application.
State Projected
Growth Next 12
Months(percent)

Technology

U.S. Projected
Growth Next 12
Months(percent)Electric Power Generation
Electric Power Transmission, Distribution, andStorage
Energy Efficiency

6.0

4.8

1.0

3.5

3.2

3.0

Fuels

4.9

1.7

Motor Vehicles

4.0

3.1

SD — 6

U S E N E R G Y + E M P L O Y M E N T R E P O R T 2 0 2 0 | South Dakota
HIRING DIFFICULTY
Over the last year, 66.7 percent of energy-related employers in South
Dakota hired new employees. These employers reported the greatest
overall difficulty in hiring workers for jobs in Electric Power Generation.
Table SD-2
Hiring Difficulty by Major Technology Application.
Very Difficult(percent)Technology

Somewhat
Difficult (percent)Not at All
Difficult(percent)Electric Power Generation
Electric Power Transmission, Distribution, andStorage
Energy Efficiency

35.1

53.9

11.0

35.1

43.9

21.0

29.0

45.0

26.0

Fuels

25.7

35.9

38.4

Motor Vehicles

46.3

41.4

12.2

Employers in South Dakota gave the following as the top three reasons fortheir reported difficulty:
1. Lack of experience, training, or technical skills
2. Economy/structural problem
3. Competition/ small applicant pool
Employers reported the following as the three most difficult occupations
to hire for:1. Technician or mechanical support — $21.52 median hourly wage
2. Electrician/construction workers — $25.82 median hourly wage
3. Sales, marketing, or customer service — $33.71 median hourly wage

SD — 7