Construction employment rose in half the states and decreased in half in October, according to Dept.of Labor reports, closely matching the stable national employment picture.

According to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America, the even split between gains and losses reflects the accelerating improvement in apartment and private nonresidential construction, offset by a declining public market and stalled single-family sector.

“Local factors, rather than regional or industry trends, seem to dictate whether a state has rising or falling construction employment in a given month,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist.

North Dakota ranked first among 24 states and the District of Columbia that recorded construction employment gains from October 2010 to October 2011. The state added 19 percent (4,100 jobs). Oklahoma ranked second (8.1 percent, 5,500 jobs), followed by D.C. (4.8 percent, 500 jobs). Texas added the largest number of jobs (17,500, 3.1 percent), closely followed by California (17,100, 3.1 percent).