Construction employment in 2009 declined by large numbers in all but one state compared with last year.

According to the Associated General Contractors of America, the number of states gaining construction jobs from August to September 2009 declined after increasing during the two previous months.

“While there’s little doubt construction employment would have been worse without the stimulus, there’s no question that the industry continues to shed jobs at an alarming rate,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association. “The stimulus remains an important measure, but until private-sector demand for construction resumes, there’s little chance the current construction employment decline will turnaround or even stop.”

The biggest percentage losses in construction employment over the year occurred in Nevada, which saw a 27.8 percent loss or 31,100 jobs. Rounding out the states with the most losses was Arizona, Michigan, Tennessee and Kentucky. Simonson noted that 41 states saw double-digit percentage decreases in construction employment for the year. Meanwhile, construction employment only expanded in Louisiana during the past year, with a 2.1 percent increase, totaling 2,800 jobs.

Simonson also said that when compared with the previous month, the construction employment picture deteriorated slightly this September with 36 states shedding construction jobs, 13 adding construction jobs, and 2 states remaining stable. In August, 30 states lost, 16 added and five, including Washington D.C., remained stable in August.

“These figures should serve as a sobering reminder that public investments alone are not going to turn around a trillion-dollar construction industry,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “The three most important issues in Washington ought to be jobs, jobs and jobs, which is why we need pro-growth measures like those we outlined in our blueprint for recovery.”