The number of foreigners working in Bermuda increased by nearly 300 last year, according to the Government's newly released Employment Briefs.

The Department of Statistics' report shows that, in 2007, 224 more non-Bermudians and 75 permanent residents were employed.

Meanwhile the number of employed Bermudians dropped by 84 and spouses of Bermudians by 50.

However, the overall level of employment "held steady" in 2007 with 165 jobs added to the Island.

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.

This is the fifth year in a row the number of Bermudian workers and the second year non-Bermudians accounted for 31 per cent of the workers, most of them in the higher income bracket.

It was also reported that 25 percent of jobs are held by non-Bermudian contract workers.

The annual income for non-Bermudians without spousal ties was on average $64,349 — 28 percent more than Bermudians who earned an average of $50,042.

And that $50,042 is six percent less than the overall average wage on the Island which is $53,298.

Between 2006 and 2007 the average earnings for black employees increased 5 percent from $46,093 to $48,628 and those of mixed races earned 4 percent more than the previous year to $47,312.

White workers still outperformed these groups taking home 7 percent more than the previous year with an annual salary of $68,849.

The highest salaries continued to be in the international business industry, which also added 200 jobs last year.

Average earnings in the industry were $88,330 which is 66 percent more than the average annual income in Bermuda.

Job holders in the electricity, gas and water sector secured the second highest average earnings with $64,473 a year.

Service workers continued to be paid comparably less with an average income of $34,563.

According to the report there were 168 more women hired than in 2006 though disparities in earnings still remain high between genders.

In 2007 the average salary for males was $54,398 while females brought home a total of $51,998 — five percent less than men.

Males working in professional, technical and related jobs made, on average, $81,086, while women in the same careers earned only $71,203.

At least three industries saw jobs lost including 219 in the hotel industry, 109 in the construction industry and 73 in Transport and communications.

However, according to the report, the quarterly construction survey indicated that the estimated value of building activity between the third quarter of 2006 and the second quarter of 2007 rose by $25 million.

And the report added that the loss in the Transport category was mainly due to a loss of 63 taxi drivers.