The number of Bermudians in the workforce increased for the first time in 11 years in 2017.

The Government’s Department of Statistics said that, based on last year’s Employment Survey, the number of people employed in Bermuda rose by 178 from 33,481 in 2016 to 33,659 last year.

The total number of jobs filled by Bermudians grew by 0.7 per cent, from 23,494 to 23,667, the first increase in the category since 2006.

The number of positions held by PRC holders and spouses of Bermudians fell, but non-Bermudians logged increased employment.

The Department’s annual Job Market Employment Brief said: “Over the five-year period to 2017 there was a shortfall of 624 jobs.

“However, this figure compares favourably to the previous five-year period to 2016 when the shortfall was 1,962 jobs.”

Median average income also grew by around one per cent during the period, rising from $63,712 to $64,250.

New jobs in restaurants, cafés and bars supported the increase, with employment levels in the sector rising by 7.5 per cent, from 2,023 to 2,174.

Jobs for service workers and shop and market sales workers also increased with 215 new filled positions.

Clerical positions suffered a significant drop between 2016 and 2017.

The Department said: “The clerical occupational group reported the largest job decline in 2017 with the loss of 122 positions.

“Influencing the decline was the loss of 53 messenger jobs, 40 junior clerks, 24 tellers, 17 legal clerks and 13 cashier posts.”

David Burt, the Premier and Minister of Finance, said earlier this month that employment had increased by 322,

with 33,909 people in work at the end of the second quarter of the year.