Jobs in the international sector continued to climb while hospitality related jobs declined between 2001 and 2002, according to the Department of Statistics' latest figures.

Jobs held by Bermudians dipped by 230 but non-Bermudian held jobs increased by 375. And jobs held by non-Bermudian spouses increased by 75.

Foreigners spent an average of 45 hours a week on the job, compared to 38 hours worked by locals, the same as the overall median work week.

The Department's latest ‘Employment Briefs' were released this week, and contain no real surprises.

“Job losses were most prevalent among Bermudians working in the service industries,” according to the report.

“In the hotel and guest accommodations sector 162 positions held by Bermudians were lost between 2001 and 2002. Of this total, 89 (more than half) worked in service occupations employed as chambermaids, cleaners and caretakers. This major contraction was due partially to the loss of approximately 20 jobs resulting from the closure of a small hotel property in

The two fastest growing sectors, in terms of numbers of people employed, were international business and construction which saw seven and four percent more jobs respectively.

And the “education, health and social work” sector also saw a significant increase (125, or four percent) in the number of jobs held.

In absolute terms 236 positions were added in the international business sector, while construction industry employment grew by 123.

But 176 jobs were lost in the hotel industry - a five percent plunge - and there were 38 fewer taxi operators.

According to the figures, the hotel industry provided 3,061 jobs, compared to 3,587 in international business. Jobs overall totalled 37,815 by the end of 2002 - an increase of one percent, or 218.

The report also provides race and gender figures for the period. The overall increase in jobs was equally shared between men and women, but there were disparities when measured by sector.

“Men fared far better in the construction industry with nearly four times the number of new positions than women,” the report states.

“In contrast, in the education, health and social work sector, women occupied 94 new jobs compared to one for men. In the hotel industry, men lost more than twice the number of jobs (-118) that women did (-58 jobs). The 59 additional positions that males filled in the restaurant sector were offset by the loss of 58 jobs held by women. Both sexes gained from the increased employment opportunities in the international business sectors. Of 236 new positions filled in 2002, men accounted for 122 while women occupied the remaining 114.”

Ten percent of all jobs (3,652) are held by persons of mixed or “other” races, according to the report.

Blacks increased their representation in professional, technical and administrative, and managerial positions by 64 and 70 positions respectively. Whites filled 93 additional professional/technical jobs and 28 more administrative and managerial jobs.

Cruise control: Bermudians choose hospitality career, Page 9.