Jobs in the finance sector have topped the 12,000 mark for the first time in three years and accounted for 90% of the biggest recorded rise in J-category licences for immigrants since figures were first collated in 2001.
The figures were included in the Jersey Labour Market report for June 2006, released this morning.
Businesses accounted for the job increases, with companies filling 780 new jobs in the year up to the end of June, while the States’ workforce actually fell by ten.
Of the new jobs, 780 were filled by workers who have been here for five years – and who are qualified under the Regulation of Undertakings Law – while there were 120 fewer ‘unqualified’ people in work cancelled out by an influx of 110 J-category workers.
Economic Development Minister Philip Ozouf said that while there was no cause for complacency over the job growth figures, they were good news for the Island.
‘We are looking to grow the finance industry, particularly in the area of fund administration and we are seeing a rise in the value of finance jobs which was evidenced by the financial services report out a few weeks ago showing an increase in the average salary,’ he said.
‘There is an associated gain in profitability.’
