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The main thrust of the proposed Workplace Equity Act is to increase the real number of black Bermudians employed in higher income jobs. The intent is to fix what looks like a disparity in incomes between black Bermudians and whites. But look at this. Just ten years ago, in 1991(*), there were 33,120 people employed in Bermuda. Of these, 7,594 (or 23 per cent) were non-Bermudians. So in 1991, some 77 per cent or 25,388 of Bermuda's total national workforce was Bermudian.

Fast forward to 2006. Now 39,686 people are employed nationally. Only 69 per cent or 27,383 are Bermudian and 31 per cent or 12,303 are non-Bermudian.

So in 1991, there were 25,388 Bermudians in the whole workforce. Fifteen years later in 2006, there are just 1,995 additional Bermudians in Bermuda's whole workforce; BUT there are now 39,686 jobs. So from 1991 to 2006, total job growth has been 6,566 additional jobs (39,686 - 33,120 = 6,566). A total of 4,571 of these new jobs went to non-Bermudians (6,566 - 1,995 = 4,571). Bermudians held 77 per cent of the jobs in 1991. Ten years later, us lot had DROPPED down to holding 69 per cent.

If Bermudians became a smaller percentage of the whole national workforce, then Bermudians also had to become a smaller percentage of any segment in the whole national workforce. Only in very narrow segments could there be any increase in the percentage of Bermudians employed. This happened.

It happened in government and some service employment sectors. In 1991, there were 6,357 persons engaged in "Public Administration and Defence, Education, Health and Community Services, Recreational and Cultural Services"(*). By 2006, an additional 3,142 persons had been taken on. So by 2006, there were 9,499 people employed in those categories.

In 1991, International Business Activity had 1,914 employees. Between 1991 and 2006, IB grew to 4,489 persons. So IB added 2,575 persons to its workforce.

Bermudians did not flow into IB. Bermudians actually receded from Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering occupations; receded from Retail and Construction, and from many other occupations. Non-Bermudians flowed into International Business. Non-Bermudians replaced Bermudians in Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering; and many other occupations. Between 1991 and 2006, Bermudians mostly flowed into government and other caring and support services.

There was a similar re-balancing in all other occupations as some Bermudians stayed in them but percentages shifted as non-Bermudians flooded in to provide the additional workers Bermudians were not providing.

Remember, though, that in 1991 there were only 25,388 BERMUDIANS in the whole workforce. In 2006 there were only 1,995 MORE Bermudians in the whole workforce. Yet the whole workforce had added 6,566 people. So the 6,566 total jobs added, minus the 1,995 total additional Bermudians, meant 4,571 MORE JOBS for NON-BERMUDIANS).

From 1991 to 2006, the Bermudian element of the total Bermuda workforce grew by eight per cent (1,995); while the NON-BERMUDIAN element of the total workforce grew by 59 per cent (4,571). So for every ONE additional Bermudian joining the workforce, just over TWO additional non-Bermudians joined - AT THE SAME TIME. Overall, and absolutely, except in Government and Real Estate & Rent Services, the percentage of Bermudians employed in EVERY occupational group fell. Bermudian percentage participation in the total national workforce fell. It went down. It dropped from 77 per cent in 1991 down to 69 per cent in 2006. For the percentage of Bermudians employed at upper income levels in upper management jobs in the private sector to rise, there must be a SHIFT in the pattern of employment. Put another way, there must be a DROP in Bermudian involvement in some segment of the workforce in order for there to be an INCREASE in another segment. Perhaps the only fix? Immediately reduce the number of Bermudians working for government. Immediately release 2,000 well-educated well-qualified black BERMUDIAN civil servants. This 2,000 will then be available to work at upper income levels in upper management jobs in the private sector.

Of course, for government services to continue, this 2,000 will have to be replaced by - what else? - non-Bermudians.

Make sense? Are my numbers wrong? Am I crazy? What about the Education gap where the Public Education system began obviously and seriously falling behind and underperforming in the mid-1980s? What about the current impact and consequences of a twenty-five year old education problem? Please, get yourself a large brandy, a pencil and paper and calculator, do some honest thinking and come to your own personal and private conclusion.

Then email me at [email protected] and tell me if I'm crazy or not. Please, please...save my sanity.

(*) From the 1991 and 2000 Census Reports.[[In-content Ad]]

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