claiming latest job figures made the Island's economy the best in the world.

But he was immediately accused of "misleading Bermuda and Bermudians'' by Shadow Labour Minister Alex Scott, who said the unofficial figures suggested Bermuda had 2,000 jobless people.

Mr. Dill revealed Labour Ministry statistics from the end of June this year which showed just 455 Bermudians were out of work.

The UBP's number two said the unemployment rate of just 1.28 percent had made the entire western world sit up and take notice.

"Our economy has got to be the best in the world,'' he said. "There is no question in my mind that a certain amount of unemployment in a community is to be expected and natural.

"When we look at the minuscule figures we have, we are the envy of the western world, I believe.'' Mr. Dill, standing in the Pembroke West Central seat in the General Election, added: "The 1998 employment survey has only just been completed so we are still waiting to collate the information and disseminate it to the general public.

"But that will be done as soon as possible. But these figures we have released today are the kinds of statistics that make other jurisdictions look upon us with particular envy.

"They simply cannot understand this economic miracle which is Bermuda.'' The jobless total was still 40 up on the corresponding figure last year, when only 415 Bermudians were out of work.

But Mr. Scott hit back at Mr. Dill, claiming: "The figures are a lie.'' He added: "They only show the number of Bermudians who actually register with the employment office.

"Government is using this flawed argument to suggest unemployment is lower than it really is.

"When we had the 1991 census, it showed about 1.5 percent of people listed with the employment office.

"The census turned up a real figure of about 4.5 percent unemployment.'' He said Government should also collate unemployment figures from those who register for housing allowance or social assistance -- as well as considering other individuals who register for work with private employment agencies.

Mr. Scott added: "The Minister is misleading Bermuda and Bermudians. He would have to know that, based on the figures available to him, those who register with the employment office are not the only group who are unemployed.

"The Minister has to know this, or else he really is taking a very simplistic view of what he knows is far more complex.'' But Mr. Dill said: "To say the real figure is nearer 2,000 is nonsensical.

Nothing could be further from the truth. It makes no sense at all.

"I would invite anyone to come to us in the Ministry and examine the figures.'' He said figures for 1997 showed 35,296 people were in work, a jump of 663 since 1996.

They also signified that 1,869 jobs had been filled since 1993, he added.

And figures for last year showed only 6,525 jobs were held by expatriates, down 836 on 1988.

A Ministry statement added: "Bermudians are capturing an increasing percentage of the professional, technical, administrative and managerial jobs which are being created by the expanding economy.

"In 1997, Bermudians won 58 percent of the new professional and technical jobs, versus 46 percent in 1996.'' It also said Bermuda had 578 people out of work in 1996 while there were 871 jobless in 1995.