The industry is recovering nationwide from work stoppages forced on so many builders by the Great Recession, and as a whole, should experience modest growth throughout 2013, according to the latest construction cost report from property and construction consultant Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB).

RLB cites the strengthening of the Architectural Billings Index (ABI), prepared by the American Institute of Architects, which rose to 54.2 in January from a mark of 51.2 in December, as one sign of widespread recovery.

Additionally, all 12 U.S. cities where the company tracks construction costs experienced a positive change since the beginning of 2012. New York saw the largest increase at 4.35 percent, with Washington, D.C. at second with a 3.87 uptick. Boston took home the bronze with a 3.7 percent increase in construction costs.

In Massachusetts, many construction management firms have been increasing their ranks across the board, from project managers to business development professionals and project cost estimators. That’s a direct result of companies increasing their backlogs of work and a surge in demand from developers getting projects underway or off the shelves.

To wit, the industry, while "not quite out of the woods," is in the best position that it has been since 2008, RLB President Julian Anderson said in a statement.

"Looking ahead, the Federal Reserve’s policy of continuing low interest rates will definitely help, as will increasing city, county and state revenue streams along with the strengthening of the housing market," Anderson said in the statement. "Headwinds from the dysfunction of Washington, D.C. will be an unwelcome drag but, barring some new economic shock, will probably not be enough to arrest the industries momentum."