Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers decreased by 0.8% quarter-to-quarter to MOP792 in the first quarter of 2023. The average daily wage of local workers (MOP989) rose by 1.5%, while that of non-resident workers (MOP700) dropped by 3.0%.

In terms of main occupations, the average daily wages of bricklayers & plasterers (MOP700) and electricians & electrical workers (MOP840) fell by 8.4% and 2.1% respectively quarter-to-quarter, while the wages of water/gas pipe installers (MOP831), welders (MOP923) and aluminium/glass installers (MOP857) rose by 5.7%, 4.6% and 3.9% respectively.

After discounting the effect of inflation, the real wage index of construction workers (96.7) in the first quarter grew by 0.5% quarter-to-quarter, with that of local construction workers (98.9) increasing by 0.7%.

As regards construction materials, average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars (MOP6,173 per tonne) in the first quarter increased by 0.8% quarter-to-quarter, while that of concrete (MOP1,100 per cubic metre) decreased by 0.1%. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings grew by 0.6% quarter-to-quarter to 125.9, with the price indices of aggregate,  marble and cement climbing by 5.4%, 4.1% and 2.2% respectively.