Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers increased by 3.3% quarter-to-quarter to MOP720 in the first quarter of 2020. The average daily wage of non-resident construction workers (MOP607) edged up by 0.5%, while that of local construction workers (MOP942) dropped by 1.8%.

In terms of occupation, the average daily wages of concrete formwork carpenters (MOP795), painters (MOP763), structural iron erectors (MOP799) and electricians & electrical workers (MOP767) rose by 10.3%, 7.9%, 5.4% and 4.3% respectively, while the wages of carpenters (MOP811) and air-conditioning mechanics (MOP733) fell by 0.6% and 0.5% respectively.

After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (88.5) in the first quarter went up by 2.7% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, while that of local construction workers (89.7) dropped by 1.8%.

As regards construction materials, the average price of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars (MOP5,027 per tonne) in the first quarter increased by 0.6% quarter-to-quarter, while that of concrete (MOP990 per cubic metre) held stable. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings rose by 0.8% quarter-to-quarter to 111.6, with the price index of timber growing by 3.6%; meanwhile, the price indices of sand and aggregate decreased by 2.1% and 1.7% respectively.