Iowa lost more construction jobs than any other state over the past year, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Between February 2017 and February 2018, Iowa lost 6,700 construction jobs, an 8.5 percent decline. The percentage loss was second only to North Dakota, whose 16.3 percent decrease represented a loss of 4,800 jobs. 

On the other side of the coin, California led the states in the most construction jobs added — 74,000 jobs, or a 9.8 percent increase. Other states adding a high number of new construction jobs for the past 12 months include Texas (33,900 jobs, 4.8 percent) and Florida (31,700 jobs, 6.3 percent).

“The states with the largest job gains were all recovering from natural disasters, while losses were concentrated in the Plains states,” AGC’s chief economist, Ken Simonson, said in a statement. “The Plains states have been hurt by a downturn in farm-related income.” 

Overall, 35 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs in 2017; association officials said the “widespread job gains show that construction offers good career opportunities and that public agencies at all levels of government should do more to improve the career and technical education pipeline.”