Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers increased by 6.1% quarter-to-quarter to MOP713 in the fourth quarter of 2014, and the average daily wage of local construction workers was MOP955, up by 8.2%.

The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers was MOP719, up by 6.2% quarter-to-quarter. The average daily wages of electricians & electrical workers (MOP757), concrete formwork carpenters (MOP801) and plant operators (MOP957) increased by 8.3%, 3.9% and 3.2% respectively due to increase in demand. The average daily wage of structural iron erectors (MOP799) decreased by 1.4%. Meanwhile, the average daily wage of unskilled workers was MOP388, down slightly by 0.5%.

After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (98.1) increased by 4.3% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, while the wage index of local construction workers (129.3) increased by 6.2% quarter-to-quarter. For the whole year of 2014, the average wage index of construction workers (94.1) rose by 5.5% year-on-year in real terms, and that of local construction workers (119.0) increased by 12.8%.

As regards construction materials, the average price of concrete increased by 2.0% quarter-to-quarter, at MOP700 per cubic metre in the fourth quarter of 2014; the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars was MOP4,771 per tonne, down by 3.8%. Meanwhile, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings (129.7) in the fourth quarter of 2014 decreased slightly by 0.3% quarter-to-quarter; the average price index for 2014 (129.0) rose by 5.7% year-on-year.