Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers decreased by 2.6% quarter-to-quarter to MOP743 in the second quarter of 2019, due to lower demand for construction workers following the near completion of several large-scale entertainment facilities projects. The average daily wages of local (MOP987) and non-resident construction workers (MOP597) fell by 2.9% and 4.3% respectively quarter-to-quarter.

In terms of occupation, the average daily wages of air-conditioning mechanics (MOP783), aluminium/glass installers (MOP743), electricians & electrical workers (MOP754) and painters (MOP700) decreased by 8.2%, 5.1%, 4.1% and 3.8% respectively. Meanwhile, the average daily wages of bricklayers & plasterers (MOP758) and carpenters (MOP869) saw respective increases of 3.8% and 1.5%.

After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (95.0) for the second quarter of 2019 dropped by 1.8% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, and that of local construction workers (96.4) fell by 1.2%.

As regards construction materials, the average prices of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars (MOP5,078 per tonne) and concrete (MOP936 per cubic metre) in the second quarter of 2019 edged down by 0.5% and 0.2% respectively quarter-to-quarter. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings in the second quarter grew by 0.2% quarter-to-quarter to 109.5, with the price index of aggregate rising by 4.1% while thatof sand dropping by 6.6%.