KALAELOA (HawaiiNewsNow) - Waiting for a turnaround - Hawaii's construction industry has taken a big dive this year, losing more than 3,000 jobs from the year before, which was already way down.

So why are industry leaders optimistic? It's because there's something the numbers aren't telling us. What the numbers don't factor in are the new projects in the coming months.

A new report from the Associated General Contractors of America says 14,000 new jobs across the nation were added between March to April. And industry leaders say that boost is expected to eventually reach Hawaii.

"I am a sheet metal journeyman but construction is so slow, that I'm running out of benefits so I have to find an alternative job," said Carol Yamamoto, a construction worker.