Forty-two states added construction jobs between December 2016 and December 2017, according to Labor Department data analyzed by the Associated General Contractors of America.
"Construction employment is expanding in many parts of the country in large part because of strong private-sector demand," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist, in a statement. "Any new public-sector investments, particularly for infrastructure projects, would help accelerate job gains in many parts of the country."
California added the most construction jobs during the time period, with 56,000. It was followed by Florida, 43,900 jobs; Texas, 27,900; Pennsylvania, 13,100; and Washington, 11,500.
Eight states lost construction jobs. The most construction jobs shed were in Missouri, down 8,800; Iowa, down 7,500; North Carolina, down 2,100; and Connecticut, down 1,900.
