Construction employment fell in May by 28,000, the largest decline in two years, and is now at the lowest level since last August, according to an analysis of new federal data released recently by the Associated General Contractors of America. The drop in construction employment comes as new figures show a 1.4 percent decrease in public construction spending restrained overall construction activity growth to 0.3 percent.

“With construction employment shrinking for the fourth month in a row, the industry is clearly having a difficult start to the year,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “In particular, cuts to public sector investments in construction are taking their toll, given that heavy and civil engineering construction experienced the largest employment decline within the sector.”