South Dakota’s labor force is ingrained with the infamous Midwestern work ethic. Its people are dependable, prepared, productive and ready to work. Today this tradition of hard work is melding with technology and yielding a sophisticated, innovative and well educated workforce, ready to change the world and move your business ahead.
Occupations
Graduates
Enrollment
Occupations
From 2001-2006 the number of people employed in specialized Biotech occupations in South Dakota has more than doubled (50.34%). This rate of growth far outpaced the nation’s growth of 20.32%.
Additionally South Dakota's average wage has increased by $4.53 or 27.56% since 2001 and is outpacing the nation's average wage growth of $4.11 or 19.53%.
|
2001 |
2006 |
# Growth |
% Change |
South Dakota |
|
|
|
|
Workers |
1,490 |
2,240 |
750 |
50.34% |
Avg Wage |
$16.42 |
$20.95 |
$4.53 |
27.56% |
Median Wage |
$15.96 |
$20.70 |
$4.74 |
29.67% |
|
|
|
|
|
United States |
|
|
|
|
Workers |
542,320 |
652,500 |
110,180 |
20.32% |
Avg Wage |
$21.05 |
$25.16 |
$4.11 |
19.53% |
Median Wage |
$19.60 |
$23.42 |
$3.82 |
19.50% |
Source: South Dakota Dept of Labor, Labor Market Information Center, May 2006 data, April 2008.
For greater detail on biotech occupations and wages, including data by SOC code, please select one of the following: 
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Graduates
From 2001-2007 the number of students in biotech-related fields graduating from South Dakota's public universities totaled more than 2,000. That's 2,000 highly educated and specialized professionals ready to staff your operations.
In 2007, South Dakota's public universities graduated 400 students from academic programs that feed the biotech industry's workforce.
Of those 400 degrees awarded:
- 10 were Associates Degrees
- 329 were Bachelor's Degrees
- 43 were Masters Degrees
- 18 were Doctorates
The following four public universities are educating future biotech professionals:
Black Hills State University (BHSU) … Spearfish, SD
Northern State University (NSU) … Aberdeen, SD
South Dakota State University (SDSU) … Brookings, SD
University of South Dakota (USD) … Vermillion, SD
FY Year |
BHSU |
NSU |
SDSU |
USD |
System |
2001 |
23 |
29 |
249 |
75 |
376 |
2002 |
16 |
17 |
241 |
76 |
350 |
2003 |
19 |
18 |
201 |
59 |
297 |
2004 |
20 |
24 |
218 |
62 |
324 |
2005 |
13 |
21 |
230 |
75 |
339 |
2006 |
19 |
17 |
232 |
74 |
342 |
| 2007 |
19 |
29 |
282 |
70 |
400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2001-2007 |
129 |
155 |
1,653 |
491 |
2,428 |
Source: South Dakota Board of Regents, November 2007.
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Enrollment
Fall 2007 Enrollment numbers show that our public universities will continue to churn out a strong biotech-trained labor pool in the next four years.
| Fall 2007 |
Freshman |
Sophomore |
Junior |
Senior |
Total |
| BHSU |
212 |
82 |
63 |
31 |
388 |
| NSU |
29 |
30 |
21 |
21 |
101 |
| SDSU |
389 |
288 |
272 |
366 |
1,315 |
| USD |
111 |
74 |
73 |
93 |
351 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
741 |
474 |
429 |
511 |
2,155 |
Source: South Dakota Board of Regents, November 2007.
For greater detail on graduates in biotech fields, including data by CIP code, please select one of the following:
Please refer to our technical notes for a list of the Codes used to classify the Biotech Industry.
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