This article was published in the April 2006 South Dakota Labor Bulletin.

So, what about locally? We asked the managers of area South Dakota Career Centers (SDCC) about the types of summer jobs youth in their areas have obtained and some of the openings still available. Openings for many of these opportunities listed below are actually filled during the winter months. SDCC managers strongly encourage youth seeking summer jobs to begin job seeking as early as possible, because many summer positions are filled as soon as January or February. Click here for more information on the programs and services provided by the SDCCs, including contact information.  

Aberdeen SDCC
Dan Thielsen, Manager

• Cashiers and stockers at green houses and other retail businesses to cover permanent employees’ summer vacations and for other outdoor work

• Construction laborers

• Aberdeen City Parks Department positions at the swimming pool, Wylie Park, golf course, parks, as well as coaching youth sports and instructor jobs for various classes offered

• Food service positions at fast food businesses and other restaurants

• Reservation agents for companies which make motel reservations

• Farm laborers

Brookings SDCC
Jeff Kjenstad, Manager

• Light assembly and machine operator positions in manufacturing

• Flaggers, construction laborers, concrete workers, heavy equipment operators and truck
  drivers for a larger road construction project

• Seasonal jobs at local golf courses, parks and the city for mowing, lifeguarding, street maintenance and garbage collection

• Summer inspection positions for a city fiber project.

Huron SDCC
Robin Wallum, Manager

• Turkey processing plant positions at Dakota Provisions

• Summer intern positions for various state agencies, including a field engineer for the Department of Transportation, a special events/marketing assistant intern for the State Fair;
  an employment services intern at the SDCC, and parks workers for the Game, Fish and Parks Department at Lake Louise

• Summer recreation and maintenance positions for the various cities

• Jobs ranging from data entry clerks to crew leaders with the State Fair

• Truck drivers, weed sprayers, tree planters, irrigation system set-up laborers, grain workers
  and warehouse workers.

Madison SDCC
Jim Baltzer, Manager

• Lifeguards, pool manager, parks maintenance and recreation workers, and a recreation supervisor for the City of Madison

• Parks and grounds maintenance workers, campground attendants and supervisors, and a seasonal crew leader for the Department of Game, Fish and Parks at Lake Herman

• Nursery workers and seasonal truck drivers at area nurseries

• Tree planting machine operator for Moody County

• Construction jobs including highway flagging

• Farm labor

Mitchell SDCC
Jeanne Anderson, Manager

• Service and retail jobs to meet tourism demands

• Construction and outdoor laborer positions

• Summer manufacturing positions (held largely by returning workers)

Mobridge SDCC
Marge Mertz, Manager

• Summer parks workers for the Department of Game, Fish and Parks at Mobridge, Selby, Gettysburg and Lemmon

• Lifeguards and pool maintenance workers at city swimming pools

• Retail sales workers

NE Area SDCC (Watertown-Sisseton-Milbank)
Sue Bogen, Manager

• Road construction laborers

• Tourism/hospitality positions

• Production jobs for several manufacturers to help cover vacations and relieve overtime
  of permanent workers

• Seasonal services positions at businesses like Dairy Queen and Thunder Road

• Park workers; lifeguards and pool attendants; baseball, softball and other sports coaches; utilities helpers; and maintenance workers for cities, counties and state parks

Pierre SDCC
Bill McEntaffer, Manager

• Various internship with state government agencies

• Seasonal positions with the Department of Game, Fish & Parks

• Tree planters with the conservation districts

• Construction workers, including concrete workers and carpenters

• Drivers for construction and fertilizer industries

• Cashiers, waiters/waitresses, cooks and housekeeping positions 

Pine Ridge Satellite Office
Billie Green

• Construction laborers

• Many summer job opportunities for youth in the Pine Ridge area are handled by the
  Oglala Sioux Tribe through the Workforce Investment Act Program.

Rapid City SDCC
Penny Kutz, Manager

• Various tourism, service and food industries summer jobs

• Newspaper deliverers

• Babysitters

• Domestic service workers

Sioux Falls SDCC
Gregory Johnson, Manager

• Various Executive Intern positions (summer state government positions for students with
  a minimum of sophomore standing at a college or technical school)

• Seasonal positions with various agencies such as the Departments of Transportation,
  Game, Fish & Parks, Tourism, etc.

• Park maintenance workers, lifeguards, playground supervisors, pool cashiers, pool
  managers, skate park supervisors, open gym supervisors, league supervisors and youth
  band staff for cities

• Counter/retail clerks for fireworks stores

• Construction laborers

• Various service workers at amusement parks, golf courses, etc.

• Landscape & lawn care laborers

• Waiters and waitresses at restaurants

• Associates at retail stores, etc.

• Farm laborers

Southern Hills Satellite Office
Joyce Farrell

• Restaurant workers, specifically cooks, motel workers and retail clerks for the tourism season

• Seasonal workers at Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mammoth Site and Evans Plunge

• Carpenters and other construction trade workers

• Various medical personnel, including support positions, for a new assisted living facility plus
  the present medical facilities to accommodate the increased need for medical care during the tourism season

Northern Hills SDCC
Lisa Johnson, Manager

• Tennis instructors, recreation coordinator, recreation assistants and laborers for the motor
  pool, sewer, water, streets, cemetery, facility maintenance for city governments

• Construction workers

• Fast food workers for increased tourism business

• Workers for the Passion Play

• Various retail, service and jobs for preparation of and during the Sturgis Bike Rally

Vermillion SDCC
Jaci Benjamin, Manager

• General maintenance workers, water safety instructors, golf course maintenance workers,  
  golf course cooks and wait staff; track, tennis, tumbling/gymnastics, wrestling and Little
  League instructors for city government programs

• Umpires and scorekeepers/supervisors for the Vermillion Softball Association

• Construction workers

• Food service and retail sales workers to replace student workers at restaurants, grocery
  stores and Wal-Mart who are graduating or leaving for the summer

Winner SDCC
Lynn Coonrod, Manager

• Groundskeepers, swimming pool workers and various labor positions for city governments

• Concession workers, cashiers, cooks and cleaners at fast-food businesses, convenience stores, ballparks and racetracks

• Construction laborers

• Farm and ranch jobs

• (Summer opportunities for Native American youth will be available through the Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Employment and Training Program.)

Yankton SDCC
Fred Binder, Manager

• Tourist-related accommodation jobs at Missouri River and Lewis and Clark Recreation Area establishments

• Construction laborers for many building and road projects

• Production workers at manufacturing

• Retail sales, service and health care support positions

Those seeking summer or year-round employment opportunities are encouraged to visit their nearest South Dakota Career Center or check out the Job Seekers section of the South Dakota Department of Labor’s website for assistance. 

Various Internet Sites for Summer Job Opportunities

• South Dakota Career Centers

• State of South Dakota jobs

• Custer State Park

• Mt. Rushmore National Memorial

• Xanterra Parks & Resources

• Yellowstone National Park