South Dakota Leads Nation in Employment Rate for People With Disabilities, Study Finds
A study by Autism360, using U.S. Census Bureau data, ranked South Dakota first among U.S. states for the employment rate of working-age people with disabilities, with a rate of 59%. The study also highlighted a regional contrast, with Great Plains…
Rapid City, SD, October 30, 2026 —
A recent study analyzing U.S. Census Bureau data has identified South Dakota as the state with the highest employment rate for working-age individuals with disabilities. The research, conducted by Autism360, placed the state at the top of the national rankings with a reported employment rate of 59%.
The study’s findings also indicated a notable geographical division in employment opportunities for this demographic across the United States. According to the report, states located in the Great Plains and Western regions generally exhibited higher employment rates for people with disabilities. Conversely, states in the Southern U.S. tended to appear towards the lower end of the rankings.
The methodology employed by Autism360 involved an examination of data related to the employment status of working-age individuals identified as having disabilities. The specific details regarding the criteria used to define disability status or the exact timeframe of the Census Bureau data utilized were not provided in the summary.
The study’s focus on regional disparities suggests that factors influencing employment rates for people with disabilities may vary significantly by geographic location. Further analysis would be required to understand the specific economic, social, or policy-related reasons behind the observed differences between states and regions. The contractor’s name, Autism360, and the data source, U.S. Census Bureau, were explicitly stated. The employment rate for South Dakota was given as 59%. The summary did not include details on specific employers, initiatives, or individuals contributing to these rates, nor did it specify the exact year the Census data pertains to or the precise definition of
Story summarized from the original created by Mary Francis Witte on www.kotatv.com, see more information here.
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