Construction employment in Missouri dropped by 3.2 percent in March, according to an analysis of federal employment data from Associated General Contractors of America.

During March, Missouri lost 3,400 construction industry jobs, dropping to 104,400. According to the report, the loss in jobs was the nation's largest decline for March.

Nationally, the expansion of the construction industry slowed in March. Only 30 states added workers in March, compared with 35 states adding workers in February.

In Kansas, the construction workforce shrunk by 1,800 jobs, or 3.2 percent, from March 2012. Missouri was slightly better, shrinking by 800 jobs, or 0.8 percent of the workforce, from the prior year.

"The expansion appears poised to continue for residential and private nonresidential construction," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist in a release. "But investment in infrastructure and public buildings is still on a downward path. That will keep employment down in states with a large federal presence."