Nevada is leading the way in construction employment again in April, according to statistics recently revealed by Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, outpacing gains not seen in Arizona since 2005 and lackluster growth in New Mexico.

In April 2015, 67,500 were employed in the construction industry in Nevada, an increase of 2,200 from 65,500 in March 2015. Year-over-year, the construction firms in the Silver State have experienced an increase of 9.2 percent, from 62,000 in April 2014 — a gain of 5,700 jobs.

The increase in construction employment is indicative of steady, strong growth in Nevada, according to Bill Anderson, chief economist for Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. He says the state’s job rolls are expected to increase 52,000 in 2016 and 60,000 in 2017.

“The underlying trend of steady, broad-based, and sustainable growth is far more encouraging than an employment spike in a single month,” says Anderson.

The lifeblood of the Nevada economy — leisure and hospitality — saw the greatest improvement, adding 15,300 jobs, a growth rate of 4.6 percent, according to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

In Nevada’s construction industry, 11,500 were employed in the buildings sector in April 2015, and 47,600 were employed by specialty trade contractors.

ARIZONA

In the Grand Canyon State, seven of the eleven major sectors added jobs and four reported losses. The largest over-the-month employment gains were recorded in professional and business services with 3,300 jobs, government with 1,900 jobs, and construction with 1,300 jobs. Trade, transportation, utilities saw a decline of 4,200 jobs and manufacturing experienced a loss of 1,400 jobs, the largest employment losses in the state since March 2015.

According to the Arizona Office of Employment and Population Statistics, the construction sector added 1,300 jobs from March to April 2015, similar to the post-recession average gain of 1,200 jobs. Within construction, all sectors experienced gains, including buildings with 700 jobs, the largest seen month-over-month in the post recession period.

“(Its) the largest April over-the-month gain since 2005,” according to the report.