One in ten people have lost a job in the past year according to a Royal Gazette commissioned poll.

Two-thirds of those people have not found a new job, while one-third of people questioned said they were financially worse off than last year.

Opposition leader Kim Swan yesterday said it was "startling" that two-thirds of those who lost a job could not find a new one.

"That is tragic and socially unhealthy," he said.

"This Country is at a tipping point where the policies and governance of the PLP Government have failed us.

"In addition, we must also consider that, of the people who found new jobs, a lot have had to settle for less than what they had before. Hence, many are struggling."

The poll revealed 15 percent of people polled said they were confident in the direction that Bermuda's economy is headed compared to 18 percent last year.

Thirty-seven percent of people were not confident in the Island's economy compared to 15 percent last year.

Persons between the ages of 45 and 54 represented 12 percent of those unemployed; those in the 18 to 34 age group represented ten percent.

Nine percent of males polled lost their jobs compared with eight percent of females.

Seven percent of black and white persons polled had lost their jobs; 18 percent of those who lost jobs classified themselves as 'other'.

Chair of the Economics Division of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce Peter Everson said: "People aren't leaving jobs voluntarily much at the moment as there's not many jobs coming through. There is some mobility and obviously for Bermudians they can move into jobs that were held by foreigners.

"The problem is going to be over the next six months when the tourist season slows, some of the groups such as restaurants and bars typically have fewer staff working after New Year's Eve."

He continued: "What happens is each time a foreigner leaves, it reduces the number of economic activity happening in the company.

"The Chamber would have been acutely aware of that for the past 18 months but it's become progressively worst this year and it's definitely affecting the construction industry with the slow down of the big jobs."

Jobs were lost in a range of fields including accounts, administrative assistance, airport, banking, construction, finance, food sector, health care, hotels, reinsurance and at this newspaper.

Of those who had lost their job, one-third have found employment while 67 percent have not. Those who have found work are now employed in such fields as fishing, hotel, construction, landscaping and the reinsurance industry. Only 16 percent of people polled said they were in a better financial space than they were a year ago.

Mr. Swan said the numbers prove that thousands of Bermudians are suffering economic hardship. The fact that one in ten persons had lost their jobs "represents a huge/significant percentage of Bermudian people that we need to take seriously", he said.

"Given the social threat created by the illegal drug trade and gang culture — growing unemployment compounds these matters. The illegal drug business is a culture rippling through our society and our families — we must seriously address the growing numbers of unemployed or else these problems could easily be further compounded.

"The economic position is worst than the Government is admitting to and the problem we face is the potential more businesses closures over slow winter period."

He continued: "Meanwhile, the majority of Bermudians are financially the same as they were a year ago — 54 percent — compared to 30 percent who say they are worse off than they were a year ago."

Bermuda Democratic Alliance Leader Craig Cannonier said: "I do find the poll interesting that our unemployment rate continues to rise at an alarming rate. I was just looking at statistics the other day that showed that 53 percent of those without work are under 25.

"That is an alarming indication upon us an a Country that our future continues to be unemployed and I don't hear anyone speaking about what we're doing to find solutions.

"We can't continue to blame the economy. We have to create opportunities."

Bermuda Public Service Union president Armell Thomas said: "The facts are that the total jobs filled decreased from 40,213 in 2008 to 39,520 in 2009, and we expected this trend to continue in 2010.

"The recent payroll tax increases had a direct effect on people's pockets. Along with increases in the inflation rate, this translates into people having less disposable income.

"While one-third of people who lost jobs found a new one, this is alarming because this means that two-thirds of the people who had lost jobs are still unemployed."