Average Daily Wage in Construction Industry Applied in the First Half of This Year: 255,016 Won

Up 2.49% Compared to the Second Half of Last Year
Top Occupation: Gwangjeonja... Lowest: Wonjaryeok

Construction site in downtown Seoul / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Noh Kyung-jo] The average wages in the construction industry applied in the first half of this year have increased by 2.49% compared to the second half of last year.

The Korea Construction Association announced on the 2nd that the survey on construction industry wages to be applied in the first half of this year showed that the daily average wage for a total of 127 occupations was 255,016 KRW. Compared to the same period last year (242,931 KRW), this is an increase of 4.97%.

Looking at the average wage status by sector, among the 127 occupations, the 91 general construction occupations, which account for the largest portion, rose by 3.14% compared to the previous half-year. The optoelectronics and cultural heritage sectors increased by 2.33% and 1.01%, respectively, while the nuclear sector decreased by 2.31%.

The highest wage was in the optoelectronics sector at 388,623 KRW, and the lowest was in the nuclear sector at 234,019 KRW.

An association official explained, "Labor costs continue to rise due to the aging of skilled workers and labor shortages caused by low new entry, and inflation is also a cause of wage increases."

The statistics from this construction industry wage survey were collected by investigating the wages of construction workers at 2,000 construction sites nationwide in September last year, and can be applied to the calculation of construction costs from the 1st of this month. The related report can be downloaded from the association's website.