FORT MYERS, Fla.- The outlook for the construction industry remains bleak in Southwest Florida. New figures released Wednesday reveal another 1,200 construction workers lost their jobs in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area last year. 

The Associated General Contractors of America announced the figures at the Cemex Concrete Plant along Alico Rd. The plant is one of 12 Cemex plant locations in Lee and Collier Counties. Of those, only four are currently active, but work has been limited. The plant supplies raw materials to construction sites in the area.  

"This facility is operating at less than 30% of full capacity because demand is just not there," said former U.S. General Comptroller David Walker. He is pushing Congress to pass legislation that would jump-start the construction industry. "It appears that we may have hit bottom so hopefully we can see some more progress later this year."

The latest figures from the Associated General Contractors of America reveal 8% of construction jobs in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area were lost in 2011. In all, nearly two-thirds of construction jobs disappeared in Lee County in the 5 years since the building bubble burst.

"It's doubtful you'll get back to that super high peak you reached in the middle of the last decade," said AGC of America Chief Economist Ken Simonson.

Simonson thinks a rebound will only happen if Congress can come together to pass the proposed highway and transit bill- legislation he says is years overdue.

"I hope Congress will do its job and pass adequate surface transportation and aviation funding in the next month."

At the peak, there were about 38,000 construction jobs in Lee County in December 2006. About 16% of workers in the construction industry are unemployed and many others consider themselves under-employed.