Dive Brief:

• A look into the most recent federal jobs data shows that about three-fifths of the metropolitan areas in the U.S. had more people at work in construction in January 2014 than they did in January 2013.
• The analysis also found that of the 195 areas where employment grew year-over-year, there were only 21 that did not have higher January employment than they had this year.
• Gary, Ind., took the biggest loss in construction jobs as both a raw number (4,400 jobs) and a percentage (25%). Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif., grew by the most jobs (8,100), and Pascagoula, Miss., gained the biggest percentage (46%).

Dive Insight:

In its analysis of job gains, Associated General Contractors regularly notes how far behind peak employment all areas still are. The organization holds out a return to pre-recession construction employment as a goal, but it is not clear that the post-recession economy can be the same as it used to be.