Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers decreased after three consecutive quarters of growth, down by 5.5% quarter-to-quarter to MOP832 in the third quarter of 2017, due to a weakened demand for construction workers following the completion of large-scale entertainment facilities and residential projects. The average daily wages of local (MOP1,052) and non-resident construction workers (MOP715) fell by 3.6% and 7.7% respectively quarter-to-quarter.
The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers (MOP834) went down by 5.7% quarter-to-quarter, with the wage of carpenters (MOP1,085), which recorded a notable increase in the previous quarter, falling by 17.1%; the wages of fire service mechanics (MOP918) and air-conditioning mechanics (MOP917) also decreased by 7.6% and 4.7% respectively, while that of electricians and electrical workers (MOP784) rose by 9.8%. Meanwhile, the average daily wage of unskilled workers (MOP425) dropped by 3.2%.
After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (107.8) for the third quarter of 2017 decreased by 4.6% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, and that of local construction workers (129.8) went down by 5.5%.
As regards construction materials, the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars increased by 6.3% quarter-to-quarter to MOP4,497 per tonne, while that of concrete held stable at MOP797 per cubic metre. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings in the third quarter of 2017 stood at 135.4, up by 1.7% quarter-to-quarter.