Construction employment was mixed as 25 states and D.C. lost jobs between July and August while 26 states and D.C. added jobs between August 2010 and August 2011, reported the Associated General Contractors of America. Officials said weak demand in the industry is the cause of these mixed results.

“There is no clear pattern of improvement in construction employment, although the industry is no longer in free fall,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Just as a few states have settled into a pattern of consistently adding construction jobs, a similar number seem to be consistently losing jobs.”

The government cutbacks have seriously hurt the public sector construction demand while the private sector is struggling as well. The report said, “Congress has just enacted new temporary extensions to aviation and surface transportation construction legislation.” Of course, AGC is hoping Washington officials will start major infrastructure projects across the country to boost the construction industry.

“Construction employers are certainly relieved that billions in construction projects won’t come to a halt later this month,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “But it is unrealistic to expect firms to expand payrolls when they don’t know how much work will be available a few months from now.”

Source: Associated General Contractors of America