Construction employment expanded in 56 out of 337 metropolitan areas between August 2009 and August 2010, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America.

More cities added construction jobs during the past year than at any point since September 2008, indicating that the worst of the industry’s job losses may be over, association officials noted.

Kansas City, Kansas, added more construction jobs (2,500 jobs, 13 percent) than any other metro area, while Hanford-Corcoran, California, added the highest percentage (22 percent, 200 jobs).

Even as the employment outlook improves in a growing number of metropolitan areas, construction unemployment remains nearly double the national average, association officials report.

View construction employment figures by metro area or by rank.