Construction officials say firms would likely have added more workers if they could find them, urge education officials to do more to encourage students to consider high-paying construction careers.

Merced, California, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas, have largest gains as 64 areas set June records for construction employment; Columbia, South Carolina, and Middlesex-Monmouth-Ocean, New Jersey, lag.

Construction employment increased by 6,000 jobs in July to the highest level since October 2008.