A sharp drop in construction spending is weakening overall job growth in California, according to a leading indicator report released Monday.

The California Employment Indicator Index from Chapman University’s A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research in Orange dropped to 112.2 in the fourth quarter survey from 113.9 in the third quarter. An index indicator over 100 indicates job growth over the next six months, so the fourth quarter figure shows job growth slowing over that time frame.

An 11.3 percent plunge in construction spending was the driving force behind the employment index drop. The state construction spending figure is derived from six quarters of total building permit valuation. The report does not differentiate between commercial and residential construction.

The other three components of the employment index year-over-year change in real gross domestic product, export values and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index were all positive; exports grew at a rapid 9.6 percent pace. However, these gains were not enough to offset the drop in construction spending.