Celebrating Hard Work
By: Governor Kristi Noem
September 2, 2022
The beginning of September brings us to Labor Day weekend and the start of Workforce Development Month across the country.
While America celebrates a national holiday, South Dakota has even more to celebrate. Our state has shown the rest of the country what hard work can do for an economy. In South Dakota, we have less than 700 people on unemployment, because we stayed open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t shut down a single business. When the President offered elevated unemployment benefits, we were the only state that said, “No, thank you.” There are often unknowns when making decisions as Governor, but I knew that South Dakotans wanted to work – so it comes as no surprise to me that we are one of the hardest working states in America.
There are over 467,400 employed South Dakotans that contribute to our economic and social growth every single day when they go to work. We also have a much higher rate of people who hold multiple jobs than most of the rest of the country. We don’t tax our people’s incomes, which can be a discouragement to work. We have the strongest work ethic of any state, and this strengthens our already strong economy by filling important jobs and increasing our average household income.
All of these aspects of our labor force attract businesses, diversify our economy, and continue to make South Dakota the best state in the nation to do business. We were already one of the best states to start a small business because of our low taxes and lack of a state income tax or business income tax. The affordability of living in South Dakota also makes it easier to raise a family and for bold thinkers to kickstart their ideas.
As I traveled the state this week and visited about a dozen businesses, I heard tremendous feedback from our top industry leaders. They are growing and are able to expand here, and businesses continue to choose South Dakota as a location for their new facilities. I know this is in part because of our low tax structure, but also because of our hardworking citizens.
Not laying down mandates, letting businesses choose to stay open, and refusing to accept unneeded federal aid were different ways to approach the pandemic at the time, but it’s truly the way our founders envisioned this country would look. Our approach to challenges and our way of life are bringing hope to the rest of the country. We’ve got people moving to South Dakota in record numbers. We are expected to outpace the nation through 2030. This inbound migration will continue to grow our workforce and attract more businesses to join us.
This Labor Day weekend, I want to celebrate all that South Dakota’s workforce has done for our economy. I also want to welcome all of the new and incoming members to our workforce. You are part of the growth of our already thriving economy, and you are moving here because you value the same thing we do: Freedom.
###
This from a governor that worked less on the job than other governors, spending time instead trying to be Sarah Palin II.
Hardest working governor we’ve ever had. You’re not fooling anyone with your negative comments. Go to a liberal blog and lie, I mean complain. Best governor ever!
Agreed. Our Governor puts herself out there each and every day. She is always promoting our state, our way of living, and what we have to offer. Yet small people will sit and criticize. Why don’t you instead read a good book or do some community service?
Your lies and attacks play better over at the national socialist blog run by the jealousy obsessed herr shorty heidelberger.
I have a cousin in Alaska who said Sarah Palin was the best governor they ever had.
She didn’t even finish her term and uphold her obligation to the office. What a joke.
Bless your heart, Ann.
I have several friends who say the opposite. Yay anecdotes!
She is the worst.
She’s the best, unless you think her job is to be your mother and tell you to wear a mask, wash your hands, get vaccinated, and stay home if you’re sick, then she’s the worst.
Perhaps she could start up a Dial-A-Mom line, which people can call to hear a recording of maternal advice. You know, for all you complainers who have never learned to think for yourselves.
Mommy also said we can’t use cannabis.
And it’s obvious you did anyway.
I heard some people even wore masks.
Wow! Five of the remaining 9 Democrats left in Sd were on here today!
“As of August 17, 2022, 291,342 Republicans made up 49.52% of all registered voters in South Dakota.”
There’s more non-republicans than republicans in SD so don’t be so sure everyone agrees with you.
When you look at the SD legislature, state elected offices, and the governor’s office…..the majority of SD is aligned with Republicans over the national socialist party, i.e. democrats.
And yet Noem won her last election by only 3%.
Still won though, right…..RIGHT? And it will be a much larger margin this time.