Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers decreased by 1.8% quarter-to-quarter to MOP779 in the first quarter of 2016, attributable to reduction in overtime for large-scale construction projects in Cotai compared with the previous quarter. The average daily wage of local construction workers (MOP990) dropped by 1.0%, while that of non-resident construction workers (MOP653) fell by 2.2%.

The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers was MOP787, down by 1.4% quarter-to-quarter. The average daily wages of structural iron erectors (MOP863) and concrete formwork carpenters (MOP850) decreased by 6.9% and 5.9% respectively, while the wages of painters (MOP819) and carpenters (MOP1,073) increased by 3.5% and 1.9%. Meanwhile, the average daily wage of unskilled workers was MOP392, down slightly by 0.3%.

After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (100.7) for the first quarter of 2016 decreased by 2.1% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, while that of local construction workers (129.0) increased by 1.3%.

As regards construction materials, the average price of concrete increased for nine consecutive quarters, rising by 2.9% quarter-to-quarter to MOP827 per cubic metre in the first quarter of 2016; the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars decreased by 0.8% to MOP4,290 per tonne. Meanwhile, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings (132.1) in the first quarter of 2016 rose slightly by 0.3%.