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Construction employment increased in 148 out of 337 metropolitan areas between December 2010 and December 2011, decreased in 128 and stayed level in 61, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by �鶹��Ƶ.  The construction employment increases were likely fueled by a 4.3 percent increase in total construction spending between December 2010 and December 2011, driven largely by growing private sector demand, �鶹��Ƶ officials noted. “Many communities are benefitting from growing demand from the private sector for new construction activity,” said Ken Simonson, �鶹��Ƶ’s chief economist.  “Unfortunately, too many other areas are still coping with construction employment losses as the overall market remains relatively weak.” �鶹��Ƶ officials said that recent developments in Washington that could lead to passage of long-delayed highway, bridge, transit and aviation investment legislation could give a needed boost to construction employment in many areas.  They added that they would continue pushing Congress to act on the measures as part of the group's "" campaign. View construction employment figures by and . For the full press release, click .