Construction employment rose in half the states and decreased in the other half during the past year, closely matching the stable national employment picture, AGC says. The even split reflects the accelerating improvement in apartment and private nonresidential construction, offset by a declining public market and stalled single-family sector, it adds.

Job gains nationwide are likely to remain spotty for months to come, however, says Ken Simonson, AGC's chief economist.

In Connecticut, industry employment grew 2.2% from October 2010 to October 2011 to reach 50,200, the data show. New Jersey jobs rose 2.4% to 134,400; and New York jobs climbed 2.9%, to 310,000.