Bermuda has dipped by 0.1 percent -- the first time the figure has gone down since 1993, according to Government figures. The number of Bermudians employed on the Island has fallen, although the number of expatriate workers has been the hardest hit. According to preliminary figures from the Employment Survey, published in the Bermuda 2000 Economic Review, the number of Bermudians with jobs fell by 0.8 percent to 28,488 -- about 46 percent of the total population and 76 percent of the workforce of around 37,500. But the number of non-Bermudians employed fell by a higher margin, 2.1 percent, to 7,325 -- about 12 percent of the total population of 62,000. The percentage of jobs held by non-Bermudians dipped in 2000 to 19.5 percent of the workforce compared to 19.7 percent in 1999. Ten years ago, in 1990, this figure stood at 20.5 percent. However the number of employed non-Bermudians married to Bermudians in 2000 rose by 0.4 percent to 1,659 -- about three percent of the population and 4.4 percent of the workforce. The total number of jobs on the Island was recorded at 37,472, the one percent or 377 from 37,849 the year before. The majority of the decline has been recorded in the hotel industry, which lost 414 jobs, down 10.9 percent and the retail trade, which lost 207 jobs, or 5.2 percent. The Government report, which was issued last week after the Budget by Finance Minister Eugene Cox, said: "The decline in filled jobs in these sectors is not surprising considering the decline in visitors and the closure of the Castle Harbour Hotel, which occurred between the 1999 and the 2000 Employment Surveys.'' Community, social and personnel services lost 165 jobs or seven percent while the number of people hired in restaurants and bars dropped by 68 or 3.7 to 1,795. However there was a significant increase in the number of jobs in business activities, which rose by 6.3 percent or 213 posts to 3,355. Also on the up was the number of jobs in public administration, up 5.1 percent or 205 to 4,257. This is now the sector which employs the most people, easily overtaking all other sectors. The boom in construction led to an extra 93 jobs, up 3.7 percent to 2,601, and financial intermediation was also up by 67 or 2.3 percent to 2,974. The fall in the total number of jobs in Bermuda bucks the trend of the last seven years since 1993, which shows there has been a steady increase in the number of jobs on the Island. In 1993 there were 33,427 jobs, 4,045 less than there were recorded in 2000.

2 Number in work falls This means there are more than 12 percent more jobs now than there was seven years ago.

In 1990 there were more recorded as employed, 35,572, meaning there are five percent more jobs now than there were ten years ago.

Employment income for the first nine months of 2000 was up 7.5 percent over the same period in 1999, standing at $1.25 billion. Full 2000 figures will not be available until March 2001.

The survey said: "This sizeable increase in employment income should support a higher level of spending by Bermuda's residents. There are other factors that will have an effect on consumer expenditures.

"The decrease in number of filled jobs recorded in the 2000 Employment Survey may lower the level of consumer confidence. This nervousness would be increased if the Unites States economy slows significantly or enters recession.'' CHART Summary Employment Statistics -- Number of Jobs