Report shows 43 states added construction jobs

Forty-three states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between February 2015 and February 2016, while construction employment increased in 27 states between January and February, according to recent analysis of U.S. Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

"In most of the country, construction continues to outpace other industries in adding jobs," Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association, said in a statement. "Contractors remain upbeat about demand for many types of projects, but they are having difficulty finding enough qualified workers."

California added the most construction jobs (53,800) between February 2015 and February 2016, followed by Florida (25,800), New York (19,100) and Massachusetts (14,600 jobs).

North Dakota lost the highest percent and total number of construction jobs.

"The states with the steepest declines in construction jobs during the past 12 months have been hurt by the pullback in oil and gas drilling, coal mining and farm income," Simonson added. "A wide variety of influences boosted construction employment in other states, including weather that was more favorable this February than a year ago."