Employment in Bermuda has reached an all-time high according to the latest figures released by the Government's Department of Statistics yesterday.

The 2007 edition of the Employment Briefs shows the annual change in the level of employment was the highest recorded since 1999.

The survey provides an extensive count of the jobs in the Bermuda labour market by demographics, industry and occupation and is used to analyse employment trends.

According to the latest Employment Survey results Bermuda's employers reported an increase of 739 new jobs last year, a near two-percent rise from 38,947 the previous year to 39,686 in 2006.

Following the dip in the number of filled jobs down from 37,815 in 2002 to 37,686 in 2003, that total has soared steadily up to last year.

The number of jobs for males and females increased by 473 and 266 respectively from 2005, while those positions held by Bermudians and spouses of Bermudians remained stable last year.

The average divide in pay equates to just over $3,000 per annum, with men earning a median of $52,349 or three percent above the overall median to women's $48,838 or four percent below the overall median.

Meanwhile the quantity of non-Bermudians and permanent residents rose by 553 and 114 respectively from 2005.

Professional, technical and related administrative and managerial occupations posted big increases in employment for 2006, going up by 385 and 311 jobs respectively. Production, transport and related occupations followed with an additional 183 jobs, with service occupations falling by 234 jobs since 2005 in contrast, as police officers/detectives (-78) and waiters/chefs (-58) accounting for the majority of the losses.

Administrative and managerial jobs were also on the rise, shooting up by more than 300 from 5,631 in 2005 to 5,942 last year. Of particular interest in the findings were the fact that jobholders aged 16 to 24 accounted for seven percent or 2,780 of total filled jobs, while the international business, business services and the construction industry created 655 new jobs in 2006.

The average annual income of employees has increased by five percent to $50,686 from 2005, representing a year on year increase in employment income exceeding the annual average inflation rate of 31 per cent last year. This can be put down to the negotiated wage settlement increases and the addition of around 300 high salary level jobs in international business.

The employment trends in public administration and the international business sector have similarly made interesting reading, with international business jobs rising incrementally year on year from 2002 to 2006 from 3,587 to 4,489. The public administration positions, however, peaked in 2004 at 4,104, after starting at 3,896 two years previously, before ending at 4,069.

Of all the business sectors, international business, business services and the construction sectors experienced the strongest growth in employment on the island during 2006, indicating Bermuda has a firm and robust economy. The business service sector, which provides computer, business consultancy and accountant services, increased its market share of jobs, with an additional 220 posts being filled in 2006, as the international business community saw the need for consultancy and accounting services as they continued to outsource in 2006.

But in contrast to this the hotel industry suffered a seven percent slump or 219 fewer jobs in its sector last year compared with 2005. This is partly due to the closure of larger resort properties across the island for renovation.

2006 was however a good year for international reinsurance companies, with a number of new firms starting up in Bermuda in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina the previous year. As a result 276 new jobs were created with the addition of 45 qualified accountants, 32 underwriters and 15 brokers taking up posts on the island in 2006.

The thriving construction industry is reflected in the sound of cranes and trucks echoing throughout the City of Hamilton as the landscape of the city undergoes a major face lift, which, in turn is adding 159 new workers to its labour force last year.

The industry has benefited from the every growing need for commercial office and business space, with 112 masons, 35 carpenters and 25 electricians coming on board.

One worrying trend over the four-year period from 2002 to 2006 are reverses the sales and services occupations of 274 and 176 jobs respectively, while the retail trade and repair services and manufacturing industries showed minus figures of 397 and 142 jobs respectively.

Those to boost their staff base the most were the professional, technical and related, production, transport and related and administrative and managerial sectors, which took on increases of 847, 795 and 722 respectively. International business activity and construction grew by an additional 902 and 736 jobs respectively over that period.

Job market grows 2%