The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the construction sector accounted for 48,000 of the more than 250,000 jobs added to the American economy in December 2014.
The construction industry is still behind pre-recession employment numbers, but hiring growth throughout 2014 saw the sector at more than 6 million employed workers for the first time in over five years.
The upward trajectory is expected to continue into 2015, especially for construction workers in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle Times reports construction hiring in Seattle-King County increased 5.3%, with more improvements to come.
Meanwhile, The Oregonian reports Oregon employment reached a 24-year high with substantive hiring in the state's construction jobs.