Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers was MOP726 in the first quarter of 2015, rising at a slower pace of 1.8% quarter-to-quarter due to less intense activity for some major construction projects in Cotai nearing completion. The average daily wage of local construction workers decreased by 2.1% to MOP935, while that of non-resident construction workers rose slightly by 1.2% to MOP614. The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers was MOP731, up by 1.7% quarter-to-quarter. The average daily wages of structural iron erectors (MOP935) and plumbers (MOP719) increased by 17.0% and 9.8% respectively. However, the average daily wages of electricians and electrical workers (MOP738) and air-conditioning mechanics (MOP738) decreased by 2.5% and 3.3%. Meanwhile, the average daily wage of unskilled workers was MOP393, up by 1.3%. The real wage index of construction workers and local construction workers registered slower growth or decrease in the first quarter of 2015, following the respective quarter-to-quarter surge of 4.3% and 6.2% in the fourth quarter of 2014. In the first quarter of 2015, the wage index of construction workers (98.4) rose modestly by 0.3% quarter-to-quarter in real terms; meanwhile, the wage index of local construction workers decreased by 5.3% to 122.5, slightly higher than the index (121.7) in the third quarter of 2014. As regards construction materials, the average price of concrete increased by 6.4% quarter-to-quarter, at MOP745 per cubic metre in the first quarter of 2015; the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars was MOP4,687 per tonne, down by 1.8%. Meanwhile, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings (131.4) in the first quarter of 2015 increased by 1.3% quarter-to-quarter.
