started two years ago to ease unemployment during the recession.

More businesses this year opted to cut hours rather than lay off employees as a means of cost saving, head of the Bermuda Employers' Council Mr. Malcolm Dixon said yesterday.

After agreeing two years ago to help the Government Unemployment Office find jobs for the unemployed, the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce and Employers' Council published a special report called "Management in the Recession'' and sent it to all members.

The report offered guidelines on managing staff in hard times. It included a section entitled "Licking the Problems of Downsizing'', which pointed out that lay-offs often created more problems than they solved.

It suggested shortening the work week or reducing hours rather than letting employees go.

Mr. Dixon said businesses seemed to have heeded that advice. "There have certainly been less lay-offs recently and more shortening of hours instead,'' he said.

The COC and Council regularly send updated information and lists of registered unemployed people by occupation to members.

The two groups also urge employers to consider hiring people on a part-time or temporary basis if they cannot afford to hire any new full time staff.

Latest statistics show that in the period from September 1 to December 4, there were 674 Bermudians unemployed.

They included: 260 labourers, masons, carpenters, electricians production and transport workers, 185 clerical and secretarial workers, 158 service workers, 49 salespeople, 11 professional technical workers, nine managerial workers and two gardeners/landscapers.

The worst hit job field was that of labourers (including painters). A total of 113 -- skilled and unskilled -- lost their jobs.

Sales workers, chamber maids, laundry workers, receptionists, typists and office juniors were also among the hardest hit.

Mr. Malcolm Dixon.