Wages of construction workers and prices of construction materials for 3rd quarter of 2015

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers increased by 9.5% quarter-to-quarter to MOP771 in the third quarter of 2015, due to increase in demand for workers engaging in interior finishing works of large-scale entertainment facilities in progress in Cotai. The average daily wage of non-resident construction workers (MOP661) rose by 8.5% quarter-to-quarter, while that of local construction workers (MOP980) went up by 3.7%. The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers was MOP776, up by 9.8% quarter-to-quarter. Among the principal occupations, the average daily wages of carpenters (MOP931), concrete formwork carpenters (MOP897) and electricians & electrical workers (MOP818) increased by 5.8%, 4.3% and 3.9% quarter-to-quarter respectively. However, the average daily wage of plumbers (MOP711) fell by 8.4%. Meanwhile, the average daily wage of unskilled workers was MOP398, down by 1.7%. After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (101.9) increased by 3.8% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, while that of local construction workers (126.4) rose by 1.2%. As regards construction materials, the average price of concrete increased by 3.0% quarter-to-quarter, at MOP784 per cubic metre in the third quarter of 2015; the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars decreased by 0.8% to MOP4,533 per tonne. Meanwhile, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings (132.2) in the third quarter of 2015 edged up by 0.5% quarter-to-quarter.