Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers decreased by 3.0% quarter-to-quarter to MOP704 in the second quarter of 2015, owing to an increase in low-wage workers engaging in infrastructure construction. The average daily wage of non-resident construction workers (MOP609) fell by 0.8% quarter-to-quarter, while that of local construction workers (MOP945) rose by 1.1%.

The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers was MOP707, down by 3.3% quarter-to-quarter. Among the principal occupations, the average daily wages of bricklayers & plasterers (MOP664) and structural iron erectors (MOP927) decreased by 1.9% and 0.9% quarter-to-quarter. However, the average daily wages of electricians & electrical workers (MOP787) and concrete formwork carpenters (MOP860) increased by 6.6% and 1.9% respectively. The average daily wage of fire service mechanic (MOP813) soared by 20.3% due to increase in demand. Meanwhile, the average daily wage of unskilled workers was MOP405, up by 3.1%.

After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (98.2) decreased slightly by 0.2% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, while that of local construction workers (124.9) increased by 2.0%.

As regards construction materials, the average price of concrete increased by 2.1% quarter-to-quarter, at MOP761 per cubic metre in the second quarter of 2015; the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars decreased by 2.5% to MOP4,569 per tonne. Meanwhile, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings (131.6) in the second quarter of 2015 edged up by 0.2% quarter-to-quarter.