pre_text: NOTE 3 – STAFF COSTS Employee information The majority of the staff on vessels are not employed by TORM. Staff costs included in operating expenses relate to the 108 seafarers (2018: 112, 2017: 131). The average number of employees is calculated as a full-time equivalent (FTE). The Executive Director is, in the event of termination by the Company, entitled to a severance payment of up to 12 months' salary.
table: USDm 2019 2018 2017
table: Total staff costs
table: Staff costs included in operating expenses 8.1 9.3 9.2
table: Staff costs included in administrative expenses 37.7 36.9 34.6
table: Total 45.8 46.2 43.8
table: Staff costs comprise the following
table: Wages and salaries 37.2 38.1 36.4
table: Share-based compensation 1.9 2.1 1.9
table: Pension costs 3.5 3.3 3.1
table: Other social security costs 0.9 0.6 0.3
table: Other staff costs 2.3 2.1 2.1
table: Total 45.8 46.2 43.8
table: Average number of permanent employees
table: Seafarers 107.6 111.7 130.6
table: Land-based 313.5 302.2 286.6
table: Total 421.1 413.9 417.2
question: Analyse this data from a financial earnings document. What was the change in the total number of permanent employees from 2018 to 2019?