Information from the Statistics and Census Service shows that in the first quarter of 2005, the average daily nominal wage of construction workers was MOP370, of which the average daily nominal wage of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers was MOP398 and unskilled workers MOP243.

As several large-scale construction projects started in the first quarter of 2005, the overall nominal wage index increased 8.4% compared with the fourth quarter of 2004. Nominal wage index of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers rose 7.2%, and that of unskilled workers went up 18.0%.

The overall real wage index increased 7.2% compared with the fourth quarter of 2004. Real wage index of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers rose 6.0%, and that of unskilled workers went up 16.6%. Among the various occupations of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers, the real wage index of plant operators (excavator, road roller & crane operators) rose the most, up 16.2%.

Compared with the first quarter of 2004, the overall real wage index increased 14.0%, of which the index of skilled workers and semi-skilled workers rose 11.4%, and that of unskilled workers went up 36.9%.