CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT DECLINES BY 13,000 IN FEBRUARY AS INDUSTRY’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HITS 17.1 PERCENT, DOUBLE OVERALL RATE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 9, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — The construction industry lost 13,000 jobs between January and February, but continued a string of year-over-year job increases, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that short-term factors such as weather contributed to the monthly loss even as longer-term trends are becoming a bit more positive.