MARCH CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT DIPS BY 7,000 BUT RISES 1 PERCENT FROM A YEAR AGO; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STANDS AT 17.2 PERCENT, TWICE THE OVERALL RATE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 6, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — The construction industry lost 7,000 jobs between February and March, following a similar decline of 6,000 the month before, but extended a pattern of modest 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 lack of long-term federal highway and transit funding threatens to hold down future job gains.