Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average daily wage of construction workers decreased by 0.6% quarter-to-quarter to MOP739 in the fourth quarter of 2020. The average daily wage of local construction workers (MOP939) went down by 2.0%, while that of non-resident construction workers (MOP620) increased by 0.3%.

In terms of main occupation, the average daily wages of air-conditioning mechanics (MOP751), concrete formwork carpenters (MOP754), carpenters (MOP831) and water/gas pipe installers (MOP765) fell markedly by 8.3%, 4.1%, 3.2% and 2.2% respectively quarter-to-quarter, while the wages of painters (MOP840) and electricians & electrical workers (MOP781) rose by 5.7% and 0.1% respectively.

After discounting the effect of inflation, the wage index of construction workers (91.8) in the fourth quarter of 2020 dropped by 1.2% quarter-to-quarter in real terms, with that of local construction workers (91.8) decreasing by 2.2%. For the whole year of 2020, the average wage index of construction workers (90.8) fell by 1.2% year-on-year in real terms, and that of local construction workers (91.6) dipped by 3.5%.

As regards construction materials, the average prices of spiral & round reinforcing steel bars (MOP5,176 per tonne) and concrete (MOP1,003 per cubic metre) in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased by 2.7% and 1.6% respectively quarter-to-quarter. The price index of construction materials for residential buildings rose by 1.3% quarter-to-quarter to 112.6; the price indices of sand and aggregate grew by 18.5% and 4.0% respectively, whereas the price index of marble dropped by 2.7%. For the whole year of 2020, the price index of construction materials for residential buildings (111.5) went up by 1.4% year-on-year.