The construction industry lost 7,000 jobs between February and March, following a similar decline of 6,000 the month before, but extended a pattern of modest year-over-year job increases, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by AGC. Association officials said that lack of long-term federal highway and transit funding threatens to hold down future job gains.

Construction spending in February topped year-ago totals by 5.8 percent as a double-digit increase in private construction offset a small drop in public sector spending, according to a new analysis of federal data released today by AGC. The gains occurred despite a 1.1 percent decrease in spending from January to February and a dip of 0.8 percent the month before, based on revised data.

Construction employment rose in 30 states and the District of Columbia between February 2011 and February 2012, while 18 states lost construction jobs and two held steady—the best net positive showing for state construction employment since January 2007, according to an analysis byAGC of Labor Department data. Twenty-nine states and D.C. added construction jobs between January and February, while 21 states had decreases for the month.

Construction employment declined in 111 out of 337 metropolitan areas between January 2011 and January 2012, increased in 169 and stayed level in 57, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by AGC. The new construction employment data comes out amid growing concerns within the business community about Washington’s failure to enact a number of long-term infrastructure measures.

During AGC’s Annual Convention, AGC chief economist Ken Simonson and Reed Construction Data’s U.S. chief economist Bernard Markstein, held an economic luncheon.  During the event, both economists provided a relatively upbeat assessment of the economic outlook for the construction industry.

The cost of construction materials accelerated dramatically in February after moderating for several months, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by AGC. As a result, construction firms will be forced to pay more for key materials even as demand for construction remains weak, AGC officials noted.

Construction employment rose in 28 states and the District of Columbia between January 2011 and January 2012, while 20 states lost construction jobs and two held steady—the best net positive showing for state construction employment since 2007, according to an analysis by AGC of Labor Department data. Thirty-five states and D.C. added construction jobs between December 2011 and January, while 13 states had decreases for the month and two states had no change.

The construction industry lost 13,000 jobs between January and February, but continued a string of year-over-year job increases, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by AGC. AGC officials said that short-term factors such as weather contributed to the monthly loss even as longer-term trends are becoming a bit more positive.

Construction spending inched down less than 0.1 percent in January, following a large upward revision in December and November, according to a new analysis of federal data released today by AGC. All forms of residential construction did well for the month and year-over-year, while private nonresidential spending was mixed and public construction declined amid continued congressional delays in passing a host of long-term infrastructure and tax measures.

Construction employment remains below peak levels in 329 out of 337 metro areas, according to a new analysis released today by AGC. Given the continued weakness in construction employment, AGC urged Congress to pass years-late infrastructure measures, including legislation to fund highway, transit and aviation construction work.“What makes these job losses even more frustrating is the fact that many of them could have been avoided,” said AGC’s chief executive officer, Stephen E. Sandherr. “Thousands more construction workers would be employed today if Congress wasn’t years late in passing measures like the highway and transit bill.”Sandherr said that AGC is working with groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to push for passage of a new, fully-funded surface transportation bill as part of an effort called Make Transportation Job #1.To read the full press release, click here.View the new construction employment figures by state or by rank.