SD November jobless rate: 3.4 percent

South Dakota, with a November unemployment rate of 3.4 percent, has been in a recession since December 2007, according to Ralph Brown, University of South Dakota economics professor emeritus.

The economic decline should at least slow during the second half of 2009 if not recover, Brown said. The most recent long recessions – in 1973-75 and 1981-82 – both lasted 16 months.

The state Labor Department reports 15,055 South Dakotans were out of work in November out of a labor force of 446,045. October’s statewide unemployment rate was 3.2 percent.

Meanwhile, Sioux Falls, and Brookings seem to be beating the overall SD conditions, but not quite so well out in the Hills:

November jobless rates for South Dakota cities included 2.2 percent in Brookings, 2.4 percent in Vermillion and Aberdeen, 2.5 percent in Huron and Pierre, 2.9 percent in Mitchell, 3 percent in Sioux Falls, 3.1 percent in Watertown, 3.3 percent in Yankton, and 3.6 percent in Rapid City and Spearfish.

It sure beats the situation in Detroit, and other bigger cities.