In the Rushmore Region, the “Midwestern work ethic” goes beyond the cliché. Located in a right-to-work state, the region boasts a workforce with a wide range of skills – from skilled tradesman who understand the nuances of metal manufacturing, to engineers and research scientists. Not only is South Dakota a right-to-work state, we have low unemployment rates and one of the highest net in-bound migration rates in the country. Our workforce choses to make the Rushmore Region their home.
Employee Training and Development Resources
Industries throughout the region work with these educational institutions to develop customized training programs specific to their needs:
- Black Hills State University
- Western Dakota Technical College
- South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
- Career Learning Center
Local companies also have access to several programs to help recruit and train new and existing employees through the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development. For more information on their extensive capabilities, visit https://sdgoed.com/build-your-business/workforce-education/
As workforce experts, the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation offers a vast variety of training and education programs to help ensure employers have a skilled workforce, and to help individuals realize their potential as employees. They can adapt and customize education and job training programs to meet the changing demands of employers.
For more information, visit their website at https://dlr.sd.gov/.
Largest Employers in the Rushmore Region
Employer | Industry | Location(s) | Employees |
Monument Health | Healthcare, Hospitals | Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Deadwood, Custer, Belle Fourche, Wall | 5,100 |
Ellsworth Air Force Base | Military, Civilian | Box Elder | 4,252 |
Federal Government | Government | Rapid City | 2,912 |
Rapid City School District | Education | Rapid City | 1,774 |
Walmart / Sam's Club | Retail | Rapid City & Spearfish | 1,399 |
State of South Dakota | Government | Rapid City | 1,217 |
VA System Black Hills Healthcare | Healthcare, Hospitals | Sturgis & Hot Springs | 1,051 |
Black Hills Corporation | Corporate Headquarters / Energy | Rapid City | 850 |
City of Rapid City | Government | Rapid City | 815 |
Pennington County | Government | Rapid City | 743 |
Liv Hospitality | Travel, Tourism, Entertainment | Rapid City, Deadwood, Box Elder | 733 |
Black Hills Special Services | Education | Sturgis | 578 |
Black Hills Works | Human Services | Rapid City | 550 |
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology | Education | Rapid City | 442 |
Black Hills State University | Education | Spearfish | 415 |
Black Hills Surgical Hospital | Healthcare | Rapid City | 390 |
South Dakota National Guard | Military | Rapid City | 370 |
Meade School District | Education | Sturgis | 350 |
Synchrony Financial Customer Service Center | Private Label Credit Cards | Rapid City | 325 |
Advanced Services, Inc. (ASI) | Customer Service Center, GE Appliance Support | Rapid City | 319 |
Neiman Enterprises, Inc. | Lumber / Forest Products | Spearfish & Hill City | 313 |
Menard’s | Retail | Rapid City | 280 |
Spearfish School District | Education | Spearfish | 250 |
Scull Construction | Construction | Rapid City | 246 |
Assurant | Specialty Insurance | Rapid City | 230 |
RESPEC | Corporate Headquarters / Engineering | Rapid City | 230 |
Fleet Farm | Retail | Rapid City | 185 |
Runnings | Retail | Rapid City & Belle Fourche | 150 |
Mass Markets Customer Service Center | Business Process Outsourcing | Spearfish | 100 |