Because Macau's own limited pool of labour and expertise cannot possibly cope with the huge and growing demand, there will be a continuing need for imported professionals and skilled construction workers, and Hong Kong is the closest and most obvious source of talent.

The construction industry traditionally migrates from project to project. The army of thousands comprising Hong Kong architects, engineers, surveyors, project managers and builders who had been engaged in huge projects such as the airport and Disneyland have re-grouped in Macau. Contractors expect the demand for construction professionals to continue over the next decade.

The Venetian Macau, a HK$2.6 billion, 39-storey casino resort hotel and flagship of the new Vegas-style Cotai Strip built on reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane, is at the epicentre of construction activity, with a workforce of thousands targeting completion for the scheduled opening in July.

Gammon Construction alone employs 2,500 workers, with its Macau partner Mei Cheong Construction Company.

Construction manager Hsin Chong Construction Group has a giant project office accommodating more than 450 staff. Like all the major contractors, Hsin Chong Construction is constantly recruiting to boost its Macau workforce. Vacancies range from IT supervisors and controllers to site supervisors, construction managers, project managers and co-ordinators, surveyors, quantity surveyors, safety officers and office staff.

Another major player, Aedas, is the lead architectural consultant for Sands, The Venetian Macau and several other casino and resort developments. 'We are advertising all over the world for professionals,' said Frank McGoldrick, executive director overseeing Aedas' Macau projects. 'Even after this initial bubble of activity at Cotai, we see long-term prospects.'

Most in demand are architects and interior designers, as well as construction professionals, clerks and inspectors.

Strong demand across the various contracting firms extends to professionals skilled in every aspect of construction, from building engineers, planners and designers to specialists in interiors, air-conditioning, lighting, security systems and IT.

Once The Venetian Macau is completed, development of Cotai will shift to City of Dreams, a multi-hotel-gambling-entertainment complex with an underwater casino. The project is being developed by casino tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun, along with a who's who of international hotels, from the Four Seasons, Hilton, Marriott and Sheraton groups to Conrad, Fairmont, Shangri-La, St Regis and Intercontinental.

'We will also continue to add premium retailers, restaurants, entertainment and other amenities,' said The Venetian Macau developer Sheldon Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp.

In the heart of Macau another four hotels with casinos, including MGM Grand, Grand Lisboa and Sofitel, are planned or under construction. The newly opened Wynn Macau has announced it is expanding with a second self-contained, fully integrated resort.

Meanwhile, older hotels are being refurbished in response to all the competition. Infrastructure development to cater to an anticipated 30 million tourists a year ranges from a new ferry terminal to an expanded international airport.

David Lee, managing director of Maunsell Structural Consultants, expected his firm to stay busy in Macau for 'at least the next five years'. Projects range from the casino-retail development of Ponte 16 on the waterfront to large-scale residential blocks and hotel contracts with the Grand Lisboa and Crown Macau.

Maunsell is also closely following progress on the recently proposed Light Transit System, a partly elevated, partly underground, driverless light-rail, as an answer to Macau's chronically inadequate transportation network.

The 27km network will be similar to the Singapore Light Rapid Transit and is expected to cost more than HK$4 billion. This huge project alone will keep the construction industry busy for about eight years.

Alongside the casinos and hotels are numerous new luxury residential projects, built for the anticipated influx of white-collar managers. The latest to be announced is a deluxe 50-storey twin tower complex being developed by LaSalle Investment Management on the banks of Nam Van Lake.

Also under way is The Praia, a waterfront condominium that will boast 1,288 apartments in four towers, scheduled to open next year, along with The Manhattan, an estate of 170 deluxe apartments on Taipa. The biggest residential project to date, a four-million-square-foot development at Pac On, has yet to be given a name.

Large-scale shopping malls are also coming up, along with Grade A office buildings to cater to an influx of multinationals.

So, with between 10 and 15 new casinos scheduled to open by the end of next year, and a total of 49 by 2010 (up from 22 at last count), 'Asia's Las Vegas' is set to keep the construction industry busy for many years yet.