The Bermuda economy suffered an overall loss of 420 jobs in 2001 with women hit by the overwhelming brunt of the jobs cuts, according to a statistical analysis conducted by Government.

In its second study of trends in the job market, Government said the job losses were primarily felt in the public administration, hotels and the retail sector although the numbers were offset by gains in the construction industry, business services and international business.

Women accounted for 98 percent of the overall decline in positions, it said, and Bermudians held 929 fewer positions.

One in five local jobs is now held by a non-Bermudian with no spousal ties to the Island, the study found.

"It may therefore be useful for persons who are deciding on a career to be mindful of those opportunities available in job categories where there are shortages of Bermudians," it said.

"At the professional and technical level, the best employment opportunities for qualified Bermudians exist in positions including pharmacist, qualified accountant, actuary, computer programmer and floral arranger. Among sales and service occupations, some good prospects comprise the posts of investment officer, executive chef, sous (second) chef, cook and companion.

"Within the agricultural sphere, there is a heavy reliance on foreign contract workers in gardening and farming; while butcher, baker and upholsterer form some of the openings in the production and transport category for Bermudians who meet the job criteria."

The largest growth in single job numbers over the time period studied, 2000-2001, was for the position of administrative assistant where 86 new jobs were created.

Business services and construction were the fastest growing sectors and, for the first time, employment in the international business sector overtook employment in the hotel industry.

With 3,351 positions reported in international business against a fall in hotel staff numbers to 3,237, the second pillar of the economy seems to be thickening while the first narrows.

Hotel employment fell 172 positions due to staff reductions at resorts and cottage colonies, the report said. The retail sector also contracted by 176 jobs as clothing and footwear shops felt the economic pinch.

While there was a decline of 456 jobs in public administration, the study said this was a statistical anomaly resulted from the termination of two Government programmes.

"One was the cessation of the 2000 census field activities, which employed 258 temporary personnel," the study said.

"The other was the completion of the summer day camp and the release of 93 temporary camp staff. The workers in these programmes were predominantly female and Bermudian.

"In both cases, however, most of these temporary workers held permanent jobs elsewhere. Thus, the decline in the number of jobs held by women and Bermudians should not be interpreted as a worsening of the fortunes of these two population groups."

In addition to women, by race, blacks felt a greater loss of jobs than whites, but again the decline was attributed to the end of the census.

"About one third of the decrease in jobs filled by black employees was linked to the completion of census fieldwork," the study said. "Overall the number of jobs held by blacks fell by 750, or three percent, while those occupied by whites declined by 209 posts or two percent."

The number of positions held by those of mixed or other races rose by 539 positions to 3,383. The reference week for the survey was August 26, 2001 to September 1, 2001.