Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers decreased by 2.5% quarter-to-quarter to MOP768 in the third quarter of 2016, due to reduction in overtime following the completion of large-scale entertainment construction projects in Cotai. The average daily wage of local construction workers (MOP961) dropped by 2.1% quarter-to-quarter, while that of non-resident construction workers (MOP687) rose by 2.2%. The average daily wage of skilled & semi-skilled workers was MOP773, down by 3.5% quarter-to-quarter. Among them, the average daily wages of structural iron erectors (MOP790), painters (MOP719), bricklayers & plasterers (MOP651) and concrete formwork carpenters (MOP820) decreased by 12.0%, 10.8%, 10.6% and 7.8% respectively, while the wages of air-conditioning mechanics (MOP849) and carpenters (MOP1,142) increased by 3.2% and 2.9%. Meanwhile, the average daily wage of unskilled workers was MOP403, up by 2.5%. After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (100.0) for the third quarter of 2016 decreased by 3.0% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, and that of local construction workers (125.1) dropped by 1.7%. As regards construction materials, the average price of concrete fell by 3.5% quarter-to-quarter to MOP797 per cubic metre in the third quarter of 2016; the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars edged down by 0.2% to MOP4,410 per tonne. Meanwhile, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings was 131.9 in the third quarter of 2016, down by 1.1% quarter-to-quarter.
