Construction employment at the state level was mixed for the year and month as 25 states and the District of Columbia lost jobs between July and August while 26 states and D.C. added jobs between August 2010 and August 2011, according to the Associated General Contractors of America's analysis of Labor Department data.

The relatively even divide between gainers and losers reflects continued weak demand for construction services that has been contributing to flat employment levels for much of the past year, association representatives say.

"There is no clear pattern of improvement in construction employment, although the industry is no longer in free fall," says 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."

In Washington state, 137,400 people worked in construction jobs in August, which is the same employment level reported in July and up about 800 jobs from June, the analysis shows. Even so, August's construction employment was down 1.6 percent compared with the year-earlier month.

Idaho added 300 construction jobs, boosting the state to 29,000 jobs in August from 28,700 jobs in July, the data show. Even so, Idaho's construction employment was down 4 percent from August 2011, when the industry employed 30,200 people.

The largest percentage monthly decline in construction employment occurred in Delaware, down 4.8 percent, or 900 jobs; followed by Alabama, down 3.9 percent, or 3,300 jobs; Arkansas, down 3.9 percent, or 1,900 jobs; and New Hampshire, down 3.8 percent, or 800 jobs. The largest number of construction job losses over the month was in California, which lost 7,200 jobs, for a 1.3 percent decrease; followed by Alabama, with 3,300 fewer jobs, or 3.9 percent; Wisconsin, with 3,000 fewer jobs, or 3.3 percent; and Florida, 1,900 fewer jobs, 0.6 percent.

Among the states that added construction jobs during the past month, Kentucky had the largest percentage increase, with a 3.6 percent rise, or 2,300 jobs. Other states adding a high percentage of construction jobs for the month included Colorado, 3 percent, 3,100 jobs; North Dakota, 2.8 percent, 700 jobs; and Minnesota, 2.6 percent, 2,200 jobs. Colorado added the largest number of jobs; followed by Michigan, 3,000 jobs, 2.3 percent; Georgia, 3,000 jobs, 2.2 percent, and Kentucky. Construction employment was unchanged for the month in Washington and two other states.

Among the states that lost construction jobs during the past 12 months, Delaware had the highest percentage decline at 7.3 percent, or 1,400 jobs. Other states with large percentage declines included New Mexico, down 6.9 percent, or 3,000 jobs; Georgia, down 6.9 percent, or 10,300 jobs; and Alaska, down 6.9 percent, or 1,100 jobs. Florida, which was down 17,600 jobs, or 5.1 percent, lost the most jobs, followed by Georgia; Wisconsin, down 5,900 jobs, or 6.3 percent; and Colorado, down 5,900 jobs, or 5.2 percent.

The largest percentage increase in construction employment during the past year took place in North Dakota, up 20.3 percent, or 4,300 jobs. Other states experiencing large percentage gains included Michigan, 10.4 percent, 12,600 jobs; Tennessee, 5.5 percent, 5,800 jobs; and Illinois, 5.4 percent, 10,600 jobs. Texas again added the most jobs during the past year—27,100, up 4.8 percent; followed by Michigan, Illinois, and California, 7,800 jobs, 1.4 percent.

Association officials say construction firms continue to suffer from weak private sector and declining public sector demand for construction services. Noting that Congress has just enacted new temporary extensions to aviation and surface transportation construction legislation, they urged Washington officials to finally enact the kind of long-term infrastructure legislation needed to allow major infrastructure projects to start nationwide.