The number of people looking for work topped 1,700 during 2009, according to Bermuda's first comprehensive labour force survey.

And business leaders fear the figure — which represents a 4.5 percent unemployment rate — has risen since the study was conducted at the start of last summer.

Finance Minister Paula Cox told a press conference yesterday that the newly released statistics — based on a survey of more than 1,400 households between May and July last year — painted a "sobering picture of the state of our economy in 2009".

The Deputy Premier said based on the data, the Ministry of Finance believed the Island's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2009 could fall by as much as 2.5 percent.

The Minister had previously estimated only a one to 1.5 percent contraction of GDP — the most commonly used indicator of national income — for last year.

The 2009 Labour Force Survey gives an official unemployment figure for last year of 1,714 — a leap of more than 70 percent from the 1,001 out of work in 2000, according to that year's census.

Chamber of Commerce president Stephen Todd said last night that the jobless figure was now likely to be higher than 1,714 — and that Government should aim to get a more accurate and up-to-date number.

"Clearly, this paints a picture that suggests that the number of people unemployed currently is growing but I don't think we have a true picture yet," he said.

"I believe it gives an indication or really a gauge in terms of temperature, which is suggesting it's not getting better."

Bermuda Employers' Council executive director Martin Law said: "Whilst we need to study this information more closely, good data can only be helpful in aiding sound decision making.

"Some of the figures presented are not surprising and the picture might have deteriorated even more as the construction sector has been hard hit of late. We are in what is likely to be a tough year for employers and business."

Mr. Todd said he hoped Labour Minister David Burch was "looking to the business community to provide reporting that allows his Ministry and the Government to gain a full appreciation of the actual unemployment conditions here in Bermuda".

He added: "We have to have data that is current and accurate in order to be able to determine the impact of unemployment on our larger community.

"I think it has to be done in conjunction with the Government. The information needs to be forthcoming [from businesses] but I also believe that the Government needs to consolidate that information and provide periodic updates to the country."

Senator Burch was reported as saying last week that 700 people were registered out of work with the Department of Labour; he estimated that the actual number of jobless Bermudians was at least double that.

Every person interviewed for the Department of Statistics' Labour Force Survey was asked if they were working during the week May 13 to 19 last year.

The results gave an estimated available labour force for 2009 of 38,263, with 36,549 people employed and 1,714 seeking work.

That 4.5 percent unemployment rate compares to six percent in 1991 and 2.6 percent in 2000, according to census data.

Last year, only six percent of the workforce held two or more jobs, compared to eight percent in 2000 and seven percent in 1991.

Statisticians believe increased pay for workers during a period of strong economic growth for Bermuda up to 2008 is the likely reason why most opt only to have one job.

The jobless rate in 2009 was six percent for men, with 1,139 out of work. Of those, 781 — or 69 percent — were black.

The jobless rate was three percent for women, with only 575 female job-seekers, 441 of whom were black.

More than half of the job-seekers last year were aged between 16 to 24. Sen. Burch said yesterday: "This statistic is of major concern for us. We cannot and will not leave them behind. The Ministry will take every opportunity to assist this group to find jobs and build careers in this country."

Premier Ewart Brown, introducing the survey, said Bermuda had suffered its share of challenges in the last 15 months due to the global recession.

"We've seen consumer spending slide and we've seen job losses hit several sectors of the community very hard — from hospitality to international business, from retail to construction."

He added: "These are anxious times. This fact is even truer for those individuals who have faced layoffs due to the effects of the economic downturn."

Since the 2009 labour force study was conducted, Elbow Beach Hotel has closed its main building, leading to 160 redundancies. Layoffs have also been reported in other sectors, including international business (IB) and construction.

Dr. Brown said yesterday that a separate study based on information provided by businesses — the 2009 Employment Survey — confirmed "significant erosion in employment during the year".

He said the three sectors of the economy most impacted by declining job levels were IB, business services and hotels. Sen. Burch said job losses in construction were expected in 2010 and most of those facing the axe would probably be guest workers.

Dr. Brown added that Government was expecting a number of projects this year or in 2011 to "reignite the construction industry". He would not give further details.