Wages of construction workers and prices of construction materials for the 2nd quarter 2016

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%.