Fears over the state of Bermuda's economy have doubled in recent months among gloomy headlines and large-scale redundancies.

A poll was commissioned by The Royal Gazette which was conducted earlier this month by Research.bm.

It showed the economy and unemployment are second only to crime on the list of people's biggest concerns.

Out of 400 people polled between October 7 and 13, 20 percent listed those factors as the top issues facing the Island. That's almost double the 11 percent who listed it as a concern when the last poll was done in July.

The biggest issue was listed as crime, with 34 percent highlighting it. In third place was education a sign that Bermuda's school system is continuing to struggle. A total of 12 percent listed that as the biggest issue the Island needs to tackle up from five percent in July.

The others, in descending order, are Government (embracing the areas of poor leadership and perceived corruption) at eight percent, housing, at seven percent, and racism at two percent.

Despite bad news about falling visitor numbers, just one percent listed tourism as the biggest issue facing the Island the same number as believed Independence is the hottest topic. The other 16 percent of the survey sample either listed a different concern, or didn't know what troubled them most.