Despite the growth, construction hiring is lagging that of other economic sectors. Average construction industry employment is still down 13% from 2008, during the height of New York City's building boom, the Building Congress reports.

The specialty trades sector, which includes plumbers and electricians, accounted for 74,250 jobs in 2012, which was a 2.1% increase from 2011, according to the report. Workers involved in the construction of buildings accounted for 31,592 jobs last year, jumping 3.8% from 2011. The heavy construction and civil engineering sector produced 9,033 jobs, which was virtually identical to 2011, says the association.

"It is encouraging to note that the numbers have been stable in each of the employment categories," Anderson notes, "as it suggests that job opportunities are being created for workers in all sectors of the industry."

Wages didn't see as much movement. In fact, the data reveals, theaverage wages earned by construction workers in the private sector remained flat through the nine months of 2012 (the latest period for which data are available). Construction workers in New York City earned an average of $51,060 in the first nine months of 2012, compared to $50,989 for the same period in 2011 and $49,224 during the first nine months of 2010.

Given that fourth quarter earnings are generally highest, due to year-end bonuses, annual earnings in 2012 are set to roughly equal the $71,081 reached in 2011. In 2010, earnings for the entire year averaged $69,622 per worker, the Building Congress analysis reveals.

Some of the wage sluggishness isn't surpising in today's economy but some of the reasons behind it aren't financial, notes Anderson. "While the relative stagnation in 2012 wages is largely indicative of the overall US job market, it also likely reflects the collective impact of the union contracts signed in 2011, recent project-labor agreements and the increasing use of lower-wage nonunion labor throughout the city,” he says.