Jobs in Bermuda rose last year for the first time since 2008 — although the number held by Bermudians declined.

The 2016 job figure was 33,481, an increase of 162 compared with 33,319 in 2015, according to the latest employment figures prepared by the Department of Statistics.

According to Lovitta Foggo, the Minister of Cabinet Office with Responsibility for Government Reform, the Bermuda Job Market Employment Briefs had been initially prepared for distribution in May, but the report was not released.

The statement issued yesterday called the decline in Bermudian positions “cause for worry”: that category slipped by 82 positions from the 23,576 recorded in the 2015 survey period.

Non-Bermudian workers — those who are neither PRCs nor spouses of Bermudians — spurred the job growth with 269 additional jobs, from 6,990 in 2015 to 7,259 in 2016.

The briefs offer the main findings from the 2016 annual employment survey, which covered 4,052 businesses to give a broad estimate of the Bermuda labour market by select demographics, industries and occupational groups.

The strongest growth was reported by restaurants, cafés and bars and by retail trade, with increases of 185 jobs and 111 jobs, respectively.

The category of other community, social and personal services posted an increase of 105 jobs.

The public administration sector shed 169 posts.

The briefs, along with Labour Market Indicators, are posted on the Government portal, www.gov.bm/employment-statistics.