By Journal Staff, Daily Journal of Commerce

Washington lost 4,200 construction jobs during October and November — more than any other state, the Associated General Contractors of America said in a press release. The AGC conducted an analysis of state employment data released Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Year-over-year Washington has lost 9,200 jobs, a drop of 6.3 percent.

Construction employment expanded in 20 states during October and November and 13 states plus the District of Columbia had year-over-year gains.

The new figures continue a year-long pattern of mixed results in construction employment as overall demand remains weak, the AGC said.

“It is encouraging that the number of states adding jobs year-over-year was higher in November than at any time since February 2008,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “However, the data also make clear that these gains are as spotty as they are tenuous.”

Simonson noted, for example, that California had the largest monthly increase in construction employment — adding 7,800 jobs — but also the largest 12-month drop — 36,900 jobs, or 6.4 percent. New Jersey and New York had the next-highest number of construction job gains in November, with 4,500 each. Trailing Washington, Utah had the second largest number of monthly job losses (2,400), followed by North Carolina (2,300).

The largest year-over-year percentage gains were in Oklahoma (6,100 jobs, a 9.2 percent gain), New Hampshire (1,500 jobs, a 6.7 percent increase), and Kansas (2,700 jobs, a 4.7 percent gain). The largest year-over-year losses were in California (36,900 jobs, a 6.4 percent loss), Nevada (16,600 jobs, a 22 percent loss — the steepest percentage decline) and Florida (12,900 jobs, a 3.6 percent drop).

The association said construction employment figures were likely to fluctuate and possibly drop over the coming months as many stimulus-funded projects begin to wind down and private-sector demand remains weak. It said newly passed legislation that prevented steep tax increases, including for many small construction firms, will help boost economic activity and could drive new demand for construction later next year.