A review of Bermuda’s workforce has been launched by the Department of Statistics.

The survey gives an overview of the island’s labour force as well as the economically inactive population.

Jason Hayward, the labour and economy minister, said the study was expected to wrap up at the end of February.

It enables the department to build a profile of the workforce to guide the development, management, evaluation and reporting of policies and programmes.

A random sample of 1,500 households was chosen from across the island, with each person aged 16 and above to get a ten-minute survey.

It applies to Bermudian and non-Bermudian residents.

Letters went to the selected homes asking for a contact telephone number to arrange their interview.

Those who have not yet responded can call 297-7956, 297-7960, 297-7779 or e-mail labourforcesurvey@gov.bm.

Households not interviewed via phone will be interviewed in person on weekdays between 10am and 8.30pm, or on weekends between 10am and 3pm.

Residents are asked to secure their pets.

The survey has set last November 20 as its reference date for most information.

Question topics include:

• Demographic characteristics such as age, gender and Bermudian status

• Education and academic qualifications

• Health insurance coverage

• Average hours worked

• Gross annual income

Taking part in the survey is a legal requirement and all information is protected under the Statistics Act 2002.

Individual details cannot be released to anyone, including any other government ministry or department in a manner that reveals a person’s identity without their written consent.

Anyone concerned over whether an interviewer is a genuine representative of the Department of Statistics should request their name.

They can use telephone contacts given in the survey letter to confirm with the department.

Members of the public can also request to see an interviewer’s letter of authenticity from the Director of Statistics, and their Labour Force Survey photo ID.

The department thanked participating households for fulfilling a civic duty.