NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in South Dakota: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 38.9 (Moderate), ranked #7 of 51 states. 3,810 establishments, 54,087 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 38.9
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

🛡️Stable Market💎Hidden Gem

South Dakota exhibits structural stability in retail trade, with volatility at 2.4 and firm retention ranking in the top 5. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
96.1%
Percentile within industry
Rank #3 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
35.3
Scale of 0-100
Rank #27 of 51 states
Establishment Density
88.1
vs. national average
Rank #48 of 51 states
Market Volatility
2.4
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
25.3
Labor cost pressure

3,810 Establishments in South Dakota

3,810
Establishments
+0.2% YoY
54,087
Total Employment
+0.5% YoY
$37,589
Average Annual Wage
+2.1% YoY

South Dakota vs National Retail Trade Average

How South Dakota's retail trade market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric SD National Difference
Entry Risk Score 38.9 44.6 -5.7
5-Year Retention 96.1% 51.0% +45.1
Growth Momentum 35.3 42.9 -7.6
Market Volatility 2.4 24.4 -22.0
Establishment Density 88.1 49.0 +39.1
Wage Pressure 25.3 30.5 -5.2

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within retail trade only.

South Dakota Ranks #7 of 51 for Retail Trade

South Dakota ranks #7 out of 51 states for retail trade market entry conditions.

Retail Trade Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Wisconsin 33.3 moderate
#2 Nebraska 35.9 moderate
#3 Nevada 37.0 moderate
#4 Massachusetts 37.1 moderate
#5 Alaska 37.2 moderate
#7 South Dakota You 38.9 moderate
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 37.2 · #5 Alabama — 46.4 · #36 Arkansas — 51.8 · #44 Arizona — 44.9 · #32 California — 44.0 · #28 Colorado — 42.9 · #23 Connecticut — 44.7 · #31 District of Columbia — 58.0 · #50 Delaware — 41.8 · #19 Florida — 51.0 · #43 Georgia — 47.5 · #38 Hawaii — 56.1 · #48 Iowa — 40.8 · #16 Idaho — 40.1 · #12 Illinois — 48.1 · #39 Indiana — 39.8 · #10 Kansas — 40.4 · #14 Kentucky — 46.4 · #36 Louisiana — 52.3 · #46 Massachusetts — 37.1 · #4 Maryland — 43.6 · #26 Maine — 44.1 · #29 Michigan — 40.5 · #15 Minnesota — 39.6 · #9 Missouri — 50.6 · #42 Mississippi — 59.2 · #51 Montana — 45.8 · #34 North Carolina — 43.4 · #25 North Dakota — 49.9 · #41 Nebraska — 35.9 · #2 New Hampshire — 48.7 · #40 New Jersey — 43.7 · #27 New Mexico — 39.9 · #11 Nevada — 37.0 · #3 New York — 57.2 · #49 Ohio — 39.2 · #8 Oklahoma — 46.3 · #35 Oregon — 42.9 · #24 Pennsylvania — 38.1 · #6 Rhode Island — 42.3 · #21 South Carolina — 44.3 · #30 South Dakota — 38.9 · #7 Tennessee — 42.8 · #22 Texas — 41.6 · #17 Utah — 40.3 · #13 Virginia — 41.6 · #17 Vermont — 52.1 · #45 Washington — 42.0 · #20 Wisconsin — 33.3 · #1 West Virginia — 52.8 · #47 Wyoming — 44.9 · #33
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does South Dakota stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How South Dakota's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

Nebraska 35.9 #2/51 Minnesota 39.6 #9/51 Iowa 40.8 #16/51 Wyoming 44.9 #33/51 Montana 45.8 #34/51 North Dakota 49.9 #41/51

Other Industries in South Dakota

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →