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Construction firms added jobs in 40 states and the District of Columbia between December 2013 and December 2014 while construction employment increased in 38 states and D.C. between November and December, according to an analysis today of Labor Department data by �鶹��ý of America. Association officials noted that construction employment gains are consistent with the general optimism most contractors expressed in the association’s recently released Construction Hiring and Business Outlook.

“Part of the reason for the positive December construction employment figures was the exceptionally harsh weather in much of December 2013 and November 2014 and milder than normal weather in December 2014,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Nevertheless, the underlying trend is very positive, with construction employment expanding at more than double the rate for total nonfarm payroll jobs.”