The metro area of Boston, Cambridge and Quincy added 9,900 construction jobs in the last year, up 19 percent from the prior year, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.

Nationally, construction employment increased in 191 out of 339 metropolitan areas between June 2012 and June 2013, declined in 97 and was flat in 51, according to an AGC analysis of federal employment data.

While association officials were encouraged by gains in the industry, they cautioned that demand is still inconsistent amid continued efforts to cut federal investments in infrastructure projects, including for clean water systems.

"Although construction activity remains extremely spotty, with strong residential activity offsetting lackluster private nonresidential investment and shrinking public construction spending, workers are being hired in more and more metro areas," Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, said in a statement. "There is widespread good news for now but the industry remains far below previous employment peaks in most markets."

The number of metro areas with construction employment increases rose for the fifth consecutive month in June. The June total of 191 metro areas adding construction jobs was the largest number since March 2012.

Despite the positive employment news, association officials noted that a congressional subcommittee voted last week to cut funding for water and wastewater infrastructure by 75 percent for next year, to $600 million in 2014 from $2.36 billion in 2013.

"Construction employment is heading in the right direction for now, but demand remains weak and the industry’s recovery is still very fragile," Stephen Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer, said in the statement. "Beyond the obvious threats to the broader economy, cutting investments in vital infrastructure projects puts some of these new construction jobs at risk."