Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers decreased continuously, down by 1.4% quarter-to-quarter to MOP752 in the fourth quarter of 2018. The average daily wage of non-resident construction workers (MOP622) dropped by 1.9%, while that of local construction workers (MOP986) rose by 1.6% quarter-to-quarter.
In terms of occupation, the average daily wages of bricklayers & plasterers (MOP676), structural iron erectors (MOP772), air-conditioning mechanics (MOP832) and painters (MOP718) decreased by 4.0%, 2.6%, 2.3% and 1.9% respectively; meanwhile, the average daily wage of aluminium/glass installers (MOP812) increased by 2.5%.
After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (96.7) for the fourth quarter of 2018 decreased by 2.9% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, while that of local construction workers (98.6) rose by 1.8%. For the whole year of 2018, the average wage index of construction workers (99.3) fell by 7.5% year-on-year in real terms, and that of local construction workers (97.4) dropped by 7.2%.
As regards construction materials, the average prices of concrete (MOP872 per cubic metre) and spiral & round reinforcing steel bars (MOP4,667 per tonne) in the fourth quarter of 2018 decreased by 0.5% and 1.6% respectively quarter-to-quarter. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings in the fourth quarter went up by 0.2% quarter-to-quarter to 108.8, and that for 2018 grew by 4.6% year-on-year to 107.3.