Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers increased by 1.2% quarter-to-quarter to MOP788 in the second quarter of 2016, attributable to a 3.8% rise in the average wage of skilled & semi-skilled non-resident construction workers (MOP687). The average daily wage of local construction workers (MOP982) dropped by 0.8% quarter-to-quarter.

The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers was MOP801, up by 1.8% quarter-to-quarter. Among them, the average daily wages of air-conditioning mechanics (MOP823) and concrete formwork carpenters (MOP889) increased by 9.2% and 4.6% respectively, while the wages of bricklayers & plasterers (MOP728) and painters (MOP806) decreased by 2.3% and 1.6%. Meanwhile, the average daily wage of unskilled workers was MOP393, up slightly by 0.3%.

After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (103.1) for the second quarter of 2016 increased by 2.4% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, while that of local construction workers (127.3) decreased by 1.3%.

As regards construction materials, following nine consecutive quarters of increase, the average price of concrete edged down by 0.1% quarter-to-quarter to MOP826 per cubic metre in the second quarter of 2016; the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars went up by 3.1% to MOP4,421 per tonne. Meanwhile, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings (133.3) in the second quarter of 2016 rose by 0.9%.