After weeks of anticipation, the Budget got a generally favourable reception from leaders in the employment sector.Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert gave his backing to a Budget package which pledged no public job cuts, and payroll tax relief to help boost employment.He said of his post-Budget meeting with the Premier: “The atmosphere was extremely warm. She had some Cabinet ministers there and they entertained questions.“It’s important that we be treated as a social partner. We know that the payroll tax has been rolled back. I know a lot of employers and workers were concerned about that and I’m glad to see that.“I think it was a good idea to raise it last year. It was done for the right reasons, they needed to stabilise the economy. Now they have rolled it back for good reason. They have listened to everybody and rolled it back.”Bermuda Public Services Union president Armell Thomas described himself as “on pins and needles” in the run-up the Budget.“There’s really nothing bad to say about this Budget. The rollback in payroll tax and the cuts in overtime are going to create jobs. I’m not actually in full favour of cutting overtime for all jobs, but for the most part I can support it.”On the payroll tax cut, Mr Thomas said: “There should have been something in there for workers making over $750,000. Those people making that type of money create jobs for us. If they’re making that much, they’re key to whatever business we have in Bermuda.”Mr Thomas said his main worry was unemployment in Bermuda.“We’ve got to come up with a mechanism to trace unemployment. We need clear figures. I thought it was great that Government put on a job fair at the Fairmont this week; we saw a lot of people there trying to find work. But the people I’m concerned about are the ones who didn’t turn up. That’s where we need job creation.”Mr Thomas said he was happy with Ms Cox’s pledge that no established Government jobs would be shed.“But that doesn’t mean this is a time to sit back,” he warned.“There won’t be any cuts but we still have to stay productive as workers.”Responding to the budget, Martin Law, chief executive officer of the Bermuda Employers’ Council, said: “All in all we see this as an encouraging Budget. The Premier has clearly grasped the problems facing Bermuda and produced a Budget that strikes a reasonable balance and has a long view. Having a long view is a good thing.“The two percent payroll tax roll-back is very welcome. There is some realism to this Budget and we are encouraged by it.”He described it as a “real attempt to give some stimulation to employers”. However, he said Government needs to encourage “more and better” dialogue between Government and stakeholders.Mr Law has previously spoken of the need for Government to gather and make public accurate, up-to-date workforce statistics if it wants to tackle the growing unemployment problem.Asked about the Premier’s inability to give a concrete figure, he said: “That’s something Government needs to work on.”Bermuda Democratic Alliance member Michael Branco said: “I was personally happy with the rollback of the payroll tax. It puts money in the hands of Bermudians when it is most needed.This is a suggestion that our chairman has put forward several times in the last year and we were happy to see the suggestion adopted. As a business owner, the payroll tax roll back helps companies like mine grow, keeping Bermudians employed and this is exactly what the economy needs right now.”Mr Branco added he was concerned not enough had been cut in the coming year’s Budget.He said: “Particularly when so many Bermudians and businesses are making sacrifices, I think the Government could have made deeper cutbacks.”