Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers increased by 2.3% quarter-to-quarter to MOP672 in the third quarter of 2014, and the average daily wage of local construction workers was MOP883, up by 7.0%.

The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers was MOP677, up by 2.4% quarter-to-quarter. With an increase in demand for structural construction workers, the average daily wages of concrete formwork carpenters (MOP771), welders (MOP833) and plant operators (MOP927) increased by 9.5%, 9.2% and 7.3% respectively. As regards completion of buildings, the average daily wages of both air-conditioning mechanics (MOP635) and carpenters (MOP587) decreased by 11.3%. Meanwhile, the average daily wage of unskilled workers was MOP390, up slightly by 0.8%.

After discounting the effect of inflation, wage index of construction workers (94.1) increased by 0.6% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, with the indices of concrete formwork carpenters and bricklayers & plasterers rising by 8.4% and 4.5%, but that of carpenters falling by 12.3%. Meanwhile, wage index of local construction workers (121.7) increased by 5.9% quarter-to-quarter in real terms.

As regards construction materials, average price of concrete increased by 3.5% quarter-to-quarter, at MOP686 per cubic metre in the third quarter of 2014; average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars was MOP4,959 per tonne, down by 1.9%. Meanwhile, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings (130.1) in the third quarter of 2014 increased by 0.9% quarter-to-quarter.