SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO AM) As Sioux Falls grows so does its diversity, but also its poverty rate.
City Planner Jeff Schmitt says the latest poverty rate is just below 14 percent, compared with just over 11 percent last year. The poverty rate grew even though the city's unemployment is under 3 percent, but a lot of the openings are low paying jobs.
"We have openings for people at all levels of skill in Sioux Falls and we continue to work trying to match up those job openings with the people that are able to fill those positions," says Schmitt.
Sioux Falls minority population continues to increase: 5.2 percent are black, 5.5 percent Hispanic and 2.1 percent are Native American.
"And that's another area we're aware of, that we're reaching out to minority communities for employment opportunities, to make them more aware of local government, if they want to serve on a citizen board, those kinds of opportunities," says Schmitt.
South Dakota's biggest city is 5,200 persons bigger than it was last year for a total estimated population of 178,500.