The number of people on high incomes rose last year - with the biggest difference being seen in those workers of mixed and minority races.

The annual review of the workforce survey conducted by CURE (Commission for Unity and Racial Equality) showed that between 2000 and 2001 there had been some movement in the level of income.

Those earning $25,000 or less fell by one percent to 14 percent of the workforce, as did those earning between $25,000 and $55,000, which is the majority of employees.

In 2000, some 61 percent of people were in that wage bracket, in comparison to 60 percent last year.

However, incomes at the higher levels increased slightly, particularly for those of mixed or minority race.

People earning between $55,000 and $75,000 accounted for 15 percent of all employees in 2001, which was up from 14 percent the year before.

And those earning more than $75,000 increased to 11 percent from ten percent.

While the number of blacks in the highest wage category rose by two percent, from 18 to 20 percent, the number of whites in that pay scale decreased by two percent, from 70 down to 68 percent.

But a marked difference was seen in the survey of people of mixed race.

In 2000, only 17 percent of people earning more than $75,000 were of mixed race. However, last year, that jumped up to 25 percent - meaning that now blacks have the smallest majority when it comes to high earners.

The report said: "Consistent with their level of position in the workforce, whites are over represented at the upper income levels.

"Of those earning $75,000 or more, nearly seven in ten are white, down marginally from 2000."

But for those earning less than $55,000, the report stated that blacks tended to be over-represented. At the lower levels, blacks accounted for more than six in ten of both those earning less than $25,000 and those earning between $25,000 and $55,000.

"However, in the lowest income category, blacks' share was down marginally, and there was a moderate increase in the $25,000 to $55,000," it said.

"At the $55,000 to $75,000 level, while blacks' share declined from 45 percent to 42 percent, this was offset by an increase at the $75,000 level."

But when it came to the income levels of all other races, and mixed race workers, while their wages were more evenly distributed and more in line with their average percentage of the population, which is 14, there were some surprises.

The CURE report said: "While those at the lower end of the income scale remained unchanged at one fifth, those at the upper level increased their share substantially from 17 percent to 25 percent.

"At the middle levels there was a similar result. Those earning between $25,000 and $55,000 increased to 22 percent from 17 percent, while those earning between $55,000 and $75,000 fell from 17 percent to 13 percent."