Dive Summary:

• The Department of Labor has released numbers showing the states with the biggest percentage increases and decreases in construction jobs.  The numbers compared jobs in March of 2012 versus the same month in 2011.
• On a percentage basis, North Dakota added the most jobs with an increase of 32.8%.  Alaska, Utah, Wyoming, and California rounded out the Top 5.
• Illinois, with a 6.6% decrease, shed the most construction job.  Other states hit hard included Alabama, Rhode Island, North Carolina, and New Mexico.

From the article:

States with sharpest increases in construction jobs:

1. North Dakota (32.8 percent)

2. Alaska (17.1 percent)

3. Utah (16.3 percent)

4. Wyoming (12.0 percent)

5. California (11.8 percent)...