In the years since the Second World War Bermudians have taken it for granted that there was plenty of work to go around. Many of us still do so despite the fact that it is no longer true. The recession which has lingered on has left Bermuda with real unemployment for the first time.

There are in any society some people who are unemployable and some who do not want to work. But too often we assume that all the people who are unemployed do not want to work.

We do not think that is true in Bermuda. It seems to us that the great majority of those unemployed in Bermuda would like to work but cannot find work they can do. We are concerned about solutions for those people. The only long-term solution, of course, is to get the economy back to robust health.

There are signs that is happening but for now we need short-term solutions.

Willing workers who are unemployed should greatly concern a Country as rich and as successful as Bermuda.

People who are out of work, especially young people, sitting about with time on their hands are very vulnerable to "getting into trouble''. Drugs are a great threat in Bermuda and it is all too easy for someone who is unemployed to turn to importing or selling drugs for an income. What is the old saying? Something like, "The Devil finds work for idle hands to do.'' That is certainly not always true because many people resist temptation despite deprivation. But poverty amid opulence is not acceptable.

We know that things have not been very good since the recession. Tourism jobs have not been as plentiful as they once were. Like the United States we are undergoing a fair amount of "downsizing'' which took many people by surprise.

Some people who had no wish to retire have been retired, like it or not. The basic economy is not bad, inflation is low and other vital signs are good, but it is undergoing great changes which are bound to disrupt employment.

There should be national efforts to keep people employed. We think Government, in conjunction with the private sector, should devise a work programme aimed at those who are looking for work. The programme may have costs but it is cheaper and a good deal more constructive to have people work than to keep them on social assistance and housing subsidies.

It may be that the work could be associated with the bases. There is work to be done there. We are told that there are buildings to be removed and fences to be moved. This work and the organisation and supervision it will require could be done as a public employment project.