Are more elderly South Dakotans working?

A growing number of South Dakotans continue to work past retirement age.

In 2018, a quarter of South Dakotans 65 and older were in the labor force. Five years later, that number climbed to 29%, above the national rate of 19%.

As of July 2024, 18% of South Dakotans were 65 and older. That’s up from 14% in 2010. 

From 2000-2020 the nationwide share of workers 60 and older doubled, due in part to the aging population and falling birth rates.

Other contributing factors include employers shifting away from pension-type retirement plans, which encourage workers to retire at a specific age, and the Social Security system raising the age for when workers can receive full benefits from 65 to 67.