Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers increased by 1.0% quarter-to-quarter to MOP743 in the third quarter of 2020. The average daily wage of local construction workers (MOP959) went up by 1.1%, while that of non-resident construction workers (MOP618) decreased by 0.6%.

In terms of occupation, the average daily wages of air-conditioning mechanics (MOP819), bricklayers & plasterers (MOP690), electricians & electrical workers (MOP780) and water/gas pipe installers (MOP782) rose by 16.1%, 3.2%, 1.8% and 1.5% respectively, while the wages of structural iron erectors (MOP764) and concrete formwork carpenters (MOP786) fell by 3.5% and 3.2% respectively.

After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (92.9) in the third quarter went up by 3.5% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, with that of local construction workers (93.8) rising by 3.1%.

As regards construction materials, the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars (MOP5,042 per tonne) in the third quarter increased by 7.6% quarter-to-quarter, while that of concrete (MOP987 per cubic metre) inched down by 0.1%. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings rose by 0.6% quarter-to-quarter to 111.2; the price indices of timber and steel grew by 2.6% and 0.7% respectively, whereas the price index of sand dropped by 1.6%.