The latest job statistics show the number of posts held by Bermudians fell by 376 while the number of non-Bermudian workers increased by 247.

Blacks bore the brunt of a slight decline in overall employment with that category holding 337 fewer posts while whites held 69 fewer jobs.

Although employment declined by 0.3 percent vacancies increased by six percent to 904 unfilled posts in 2003.

The statistics show Bermudians are gaining a bigger foothold in the international business sector which grew by five percent with Bermudians getting 96 of the 194 new jobs.

The figures, covering the period from 2002 to 2003, show growth in the underwriting and reinsurance/insurance sectors while the business service sector covering legal, accountancy and computer work fell by three percent.

Employers also recorded significant reductions in clerical jobs which helped shift the gender balance in the workforce further in favour of males who now hold 52 percent of the jobs.

Exacerbating this was the increase in jobs in the construction industry.

The report by the Department of Statistics showed that commercial building projects surged by $26 million or 139 percent.

There are now nearly 8,500 non-Bermudians in the workforce who are not married to locals. They hold 37 percent of the professional and technical posts. This category also had the most unfilled posts.

The report said: ?Examples of positions that await suitably qualified Bermudians include qualified accountants, physicians, senior secondary school teachers, underwriters, pharmacists and architects.?

Occupations filled by non-Bermudians in the administrative and managerial group included finance managers, marketing managers, managing directors and underwriting insurance/reinsurance managers.

In the service workers category non-Bermudians were employed primarily as housekeepers, chefs de partie, executive chefs and waiters where they accounted for 60 percent or more of jobs filled.

Butchery continues to be shunned by Bermudians with 82 percent of posts taken by expatriates.