find or keep a job in the future.

This was the common sentiment among those who yesterday addressed the Bermuda College's newly-formed planning team in its first public meeting.

The team, chaired by the Chief Justice, the Hon. Sir James Astwood and consisting of 19 others from all sectors of the community, is gathering input to guide the college into the 21st Century.

And over the next week it will look at the social, economic, and demographic trends in Bermuda and how the college fits in.

In yesterday's two-hour forum on the economy, the team was told the college has an important role to play in helping students, adults, and ultimately Bermuda survive in an increasingly competitive and changing global market.

Clerical and sales jobs -- of which 86 percent or more were filled by Bermudians according to the 1991 Census, were expected to be significantly reduced, the team heard.

The construction industry would never see the boom it experienced in the 1980s.

Employment in the hotel industry will decrease. But it will remain one of the largest employment sectors.

And international business will become "the most dominant factor in Bermuda's economy''.

The main areas of growth in the 1990s will include jobs requiring computer literacy, accountancy, and financial support services, Government economic advisor Mr. Philip Compton said.

"It is the less qualified worker who is the most vulnerable in the 1990s,'' he added. "That is not unique to Bermuda. It's true in all developed countries. So there must be an emphasis on training and re-training.'' Mr. Compton also projected that Bermuda will probably not see very much growth in jobs for the rest of the decade.

He said various sectors of the community, including the hotel industry and the wholesale business, will seek to increase productivity while reducing staff.

"This is happening globally,'' he told the team and some 30 people who attended the forum at the college's New Hall during their lunch hour.

And Chamber of Commerce president Mr. Louis Mowbray agreed.

Noting that 2,270 jobs have disappeared in Bermuda since 1988, Mr. Mowbray said: "Employers both private and public will continue to have cash flow problems and will reduce staff.

"As a result of this,'' he said, "competition will become much greater among employees and there will be a greater need to improve skills.'' Mr. Mowbray said in order for businesses to compete effectively and create job opportunities they will not only need people who are trained and educated, but those who can cope with change.

He pointed out that it was no longer rare for a person to change jobs five times within his or her working life.

"As a result,'' he said, "there will be a need for continuous learning''.

He said fewer jobs will also probably lead to more students staying in school and furthering their education at the college, then overseas "to improve their chance of employment''.

And, he said, it will also lead to adults looking to upgrade their skills.

The college could help out, Mr. Mowbray said, by doing the following: Maintaining high admission and academic standards to keep its credibility with employers and universities abroad.

Giving its students access to the best teaching talent "even if it means seeking talent from outside''.

Strengthening its partnership with "people with expertise''.

Extending the marketing of its services; and Considering the development of a cooperative programme between itself and businesses in areas such as accounting and finance.

Mr. Cuong Nguyen, of the Chamber's International Companies Division, supported this by saying international businesses needed "people trained in corporate law, international banking, communications, accounting''.