The United Bermuda Party has questioned why timely information on unemployment is not available.Opposition spokesman for the economy, Bob Richards, said Government's statement that Bermuda has more expatriate workers now than in 2007 “flies in the face of all anecdotal evidence”.In November the Chamber of Commerce stated the Island had 3,500 fewer work permits in 2010 than in 2007. Earlier this week Minister of Economy Kim Wilson said the Chamber was quoting the number of work permits issued, and not the number of active work permits. She said its statement was misleading; the Chamber did not respond for a request for comment.Senator Wilson said Bermuda actually has 636 more active work permit holders than it did three years ago.Mr Richards said he found it hard to believe there were more expatriates on the Island. “The Minister's statement flies in the face of all this real world evidence,” he said. “It is very hard to believe what she is saying. It has all the hallmarks of a sleight of hand. We would like to know in what sector is this larger number of foreign workers employed.”He said:l International companies have shed workers, either via outsourcing or simply laying off.l Hotels have downsizedl The construction industry has witnessed a sharp contraction, shedding many workers.l There are reports of the retail sector shedding jobs because there are fewer shoppers resulting in sagging retail sales.Mr Richards said other indicators that Bermuda had fewer expatriates were the high number of rental properties on the market, the small number of new international company incorporations and the fact that larger firms sublet their office spaces because of downsizing.He added: “So if there has been a net increase in foreign workers, what sector of the economy is responsible for that growth: Government?“Perhaps she is implying that all the laid off workers are Bermudians while guest worker numbers have swelled.”Mr Richards added that his party has repeatedly called for current employment statistics to be made public.The last unemployment statistics were released in the 2009 Labour Force Survey. At that time Government said there were 1,714 people looking for a job, a 4.5 percent rate of unemployment.The 2009 unemployment rate compares to six percent in 1991 and 2.6 percent in 2000, according to census data.A Government spokeswoman said 2010's unemployment rate would not be available until the census is finished.Mr Richards said the Government should provide more up-to-date information on unemployment as it does with quarterly reports on inflation, tourism arrivals and retail sales.“The Government can produce this, but our concern is that they do not want the people of Bermuda to know how bad the situation has become on their watch,” he said.“It is essential that businesses, let alone Government, have the best possible information to make sound decisions that can help their business avoid mistakes. The Government is not providing that at this critical moment. It is unfortunate and avoidable.”Sen Wilson did not respond for a request for comment on Mr Richards' statement.For more information on the UBP go to www.ubp.bm