Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers in the second quarter of 2018 decreased by 2.3% quarter-to-quarter to MOP767, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of decline. The average daily wages of local construction workers (MOP961) and non-resident construction workers (MOP645) dropped by 1.0% and 4.6% respectively quarter-to-quarter.

In terms of occupation, the average daily wages of electricians & electrical workers (MOP821),  bricklayers  &  plasterers (MOP680), structural  iron  erectors  (MOP821)  and air-conditioning mechanics (MOP895) decreased by 5.6%, 5.4%, 4.1% and 1.2% respectively; meanwhile, the average daily wages of painters (MOP746) and water / gas pipe installers (MOP917) increased by 4.3% and 4.1% respectively.

After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (101.0) for the second quarter of 2018 increased by 1.1% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, and that of local construction workers (97.3) went up by 0.5%.

As regards construction materials, the average price of concrete (MOP814 per cubic metre) in the second quarter decreased by 1.8% quarter-to-quarter, while that of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars (MOP4,687 per tonne) rose by 1.3%. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings in the second quarter went up by 1.4% quarter-to-quarter to 106.6.

The 2015-based index numbers of the wages of construction workers and the prices of construction materials for residential buildings are released as from this quarter.