PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is touting her state’s economic strength and employment outlook for job seekers in her State of the State address to the Legislature. She highlighted her “Freedom Works Here” workforce recruitment ad campaign on Tuesday. The ads feature Noem as a plumber, welder and in other high-demand jobs. South Dakota has more than 20,000 job openings and a 2% unemployment rate. Noem’s speech kicked off South Dakota’s annual legislative session. The session will last about 38 days into early March. In December, Noem pitched a nearly $7.3 billion budget for fiscal year 2025 to lawmakers.