The U.S. figures for April mark the first back-to-back monthly gains in that sector since 2006. California still sees a drop in the industry’s workforce but at a slower pace.

The number of people working in construction is approaching a 14-year low now that the industry lost 21,000 jobs in September, while construction unemployment is …

Among California metro areas, Los Angeles and Riverside lost the largest number of construction jobs in the 12 months ended in June, shedding 15,900 and 10,800 workers, respectively. Further north, Napa posted the biggest percentage decline in building employment. Its construction sector shrank 31% in June from a year earlier, a loss of 900 jobs.

By far the greatest part of construction employment is “Specialty Trade Contractors”, at 67%. These contractors are the roofers, plumbers, carpenters, painters, who do the smaller home and business improvements.