ISLAND businesses were given approval to create nearly 2,400 new jobs last year.

Figures released today also show that 53 companies were blocked from taking on 94 new staff members during 2003.

A total of 70 of the new jobs blocked were for people classified as ‘non-locals’.Permission has been granted for 200 new jobs in the finance industry in the last two months, mainly in the banking sector.

Economic Development Committee president Deputy Gerald Voisin said this was good news and showed that there was confidence in the Island despite job losses announced recently elsewhere in the finance industryThe figures released today by the Regulation of Undertakings and Development office also show that more companies than ever before have entered into three-year job licence agreements.

A total of 1,093 firms now have the right to employ up to 36,256 people under three-year licence agreements reached with regulators.