A national trade group said Friday that the number of constructions jobs declined in 31 states over the past year, including by 3,990 in Massachusetts — about 3.6 percent.
The Associated General Contractors of America, which based its findings on Department of Labor data, attributed the job losses to a decrease in funding for public projects.
“Public construction cuts in particular are taking their toll on construction employment in many parts of the country,” said Ken Simonson, the group’s chief economist.
According to the group, about 103,300 people work in the construction industry here, down from 107,200 in July 2011. The state ranks 34th nationally in construction jobs, based on Labor Department statistics.
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Alaska fared the worst over the last 12 months, the group said, shedding 15 percent of its construction positions. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have added jobs since July 2011, and the numbers remained virtually unchanged in Hawaii.