Meanwhile, construction activity is back in full swing and several major projects are gobbling a lot of workers. The number of construction permits issued for improvements at office buildings in the central business district, which took a steep dive from 828 in 2008 to 538 in 2009, has inched back up to pre-recession levels, hitting 897 in 2014 and 806 last year, according to Cushman's data. The total declared value of the permits is higher than it was before the downturn, $459 million last year versus $427 million in 2008, adjusted for inflation, suggesting higher construction costs.