Unemployment in South Dakota has matched its highest level in the past 24 years.

The percentage of unemployed rose to 5 percent in October, according to the state Bureau of Labor Statistics, up from 4.8 percent in September. Compared with October 2008 when unemployment was at 3.2 percent, there are now 7,700 more unemployed workers in South Dakota -- a total of 22,200 unemployed out of the state’s total work force of 446,700.

The last time the unemployment rate was at 5 percent was in December 1985, according to the South Dakota Department of Labor. The state’s highest unemployment rate since the bureau started keeping records in 1976 was 5.9 percent in October 1982.

The national rate is 10.2 percent.

“The unemployment rate has remained relatively stable in South Dakota for the past several months, fluctuating between 4.8 to 5.0 percent,” South Dakota Labor Secretary Pam Roberts said in a news release. “We continue to see small layoffs, but there are some employers cautiously hiring again.” 

In addition, last week 4,961 people claimed unemployment insurance benefits, compared with 1,721 in the second week of November 2008.