Government is to launch an unemployment registration drive to get a complete picture of the number out of work, Economy Minister Kim Wilson said today.The Minister also said the meeting the tenyear work permit policy already approved for implementation will become a realityMs Wilson was addressing the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting this morning and told members: “The truth is the number of jobs is shrinking.”She added: “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s often been said that Bermuda is another world. However in this case we are not so different from other jurisdictions in the sense that we have not been spared our share of challenges due to the global economic downturn.“And we’ve seen the layoffs. We have seen the slowdown in key economic drivers such as construction and tourism. we’ve seen the headlines depicting various numbers and percentages as it relates to unemployment.”She said that preliminary data from the 2010 Employment Survey indicated that the total number of jobs in Bermuda decreased by 1,425 from 39,520 in 2009 to 38,095 in 2010, a decline of 3.6 percent.“While this illustrates that the downturn in economic activity is affecting the labour market, the precise number of Bermudians that are unemployed remains to be quantified.“I think it is important to point out that the data that is floating out there from various organisations and agencies can do more harm than good.“While it is correct to state that we do not have up-to-date official data detailing the current state of unemployment in Bermuda, and while I understand that there is a critical need to have an accurate account of the current state, the information which is being referred to by companies, social commentators and the media only serve to create confusion for an otherwise sensitive matter that needs to be handled responsibly.”The Department of Statistics undertook Bermuda’s first Labour Force Survey in May 2009 and results released in February last year show showed the unemployment rate stood at 4.5 percent or 1,714 people.The Minister told the audience: “Ladies and gentlemen, it is our aim to seek a clearer and more comprehensive picture as it relates to unemployment as quickly as possible and to that end we continue to work with the Department of Social Insurance to extract certain data that will provide more timely and key unemployment indicators.“To this end we have already received various reports however because the system was not created for the purpose that we are attempting to use it the data points are in the process of being verified and more data-mining is in progress.“In the coming weeks we will launch a full scale unemployment registration drive with a view to getting a better handle on the complete picture as it stands today. It is imperative that all unemployed Bermudians are accounted for. The unemployment registration drive will provide us with the kind of real time data that is required.“The data will be used to further inform strategic planning so that we can better address the needs of the various segments of the community who find themselves without employment.”In her speech Ms Wilson also addressed the issue of term limits and told the audience: “In the coming months you can expect that the tenyear work permit policy already approved for implementation will become a reality.“Also, enhancements to the term limit policy that has been identified as a potential barrier will serve to complement the ten-year work permit policy enabling international businesses greater long-term security and making Bermuda more attractive to existing and new businesses.“While the details of the evolution of the term limit policy are not yet finalised I can say with certainty that the end result will be a win-win for all stakeholders Government, business and the people of Bermuda.”