The latest snapshot jobs survey, commissioned by the Ministry of Finance, shows there was an extra 500 people in employment in August last year -- an increase of one percent on 1995.

One of the main areas of growth was in the international business sector which was responsible for creating 157 of the new posts.

But Bermuda's tourism industry continues to decline, with a two percent drop in the number of hotel jobs from 4,321 to 4,236.

Vacancies in the construction industry rose by 11 percent and the catering trade also saw an extra 126 vacancies being filled.

While the ratio between Bermudian and non-Bermudian workers remained the same, with Bermudians making up 78 percent of the work force, it was foreign workers who, relatively speaking, creamed off a bigger proportion of the new jobs.

Although only making up just 22 percent of the work force, 45 percent of the new jobs went to foreigners.

"When the respective sizes of the Bermudian and non-Bermudian components of the job market are considered, it is clear that non-Bermudian sector growth far outpaced that of Bermudians,'' the report said.

The report also revealed that non-Bermudian workers were twice as likley as Bermudians to hold high level positions.

"Whilst 23 percent of Bermudians held either a technical or an administrative of managerial position, the same was true for 46 percent of other non-Bermudians (not including spouses of Bermudians). In absolute terms, however, Bermudians outnumbered their non-Bermudian counterparts in these posts 6,289 to 3,507.'' Government said the figures show an improvement in the employment market consistent with strong economic growth.

In a joint statement, Finance Minister Dr. Grant Gibbons and Labour Minister Quinton Edness said: "While many economies suffer from the lack of job creation, Bermuda is in the fortunate position of having a surplus of jobs.

"Not only were there 500 additional filled positions reported in the 1996 Employment Survey, there were also 656 job vacancies reported.

Survey shows strong growth in jobs in 1996 from Page 1 "Unemployment is therefore mostly a mismatch between the existing skill sets of Bermudians and the skills demanded in the positions available.

"The greatest number of new positions was in the professional, technical and related categories. This is positive news because it suggests that the economy is creating jobs in the high value added positions so prized by economies all over the world.

"The Government believes these figures demonstrate beyond any doubt the good sense of measures taken during the early part of this decade to deal with the effects of the recession in Bermuda.'' But Shadow Labour Minister Mr. Alex Scott disagreed, saying that the figures showed that the economy was not "serving Bermudians''.

And he warned that, unless the trend was stopped, the Island faces social chaos.

"The survey shows that, yes, jobs here are expanding,'' he said.

"But this is to the benefit of non-Bermudian workers. While we don't want to make an issue out of that, we need to use the skills of Bermudians. At the moment the void is being filled by non-Bermudians.

"If this continues Bermudians will simply become voyeurs, watching others become successful while not taking part themselves.

"That will lead to social unrest and discontent will grow. What is now a drug trafficking problem will become a drugs industry.

"People will say `I can't become an accountant or manager, so I'll start selling drugs to pay my bills.

BERMUDA JOBS 1995/1996 Percentage changes in brackets Category 1996 1995 Increase Total Filled Jobs 34,633 (100) 34,133 (100) 500 (1) Males 17,353 (50) 17,081 (50) 272 (2) Females 17,280 (50) 17,052 (50) 228 (1) Bermudians 26,885 (78) 26,612 (78) 273 (1) Non Bermudians 7,748 (22) 7,521 (22) 227 (3) Black 19,858 (57) 19,715 (58) 143 (1) White 12,576 (36) 12,307 (360) 269 (2) Mixed/Other 2,199. (6) 2,111. (6) 88 Some percentages will not total 100 percent due to rounding.

Source: Department of Statistics ECONOMY ECO