Labour market information: Malta

Labour situation – October – December 2022

During the fourth quarter of 2022:

1. the number of employed persons aged 15 years and over was 290 995, or 63.3% of the population;
2. 8 732 persons, or 1.9% of that same group, were unemployed (not working);
3. 159 622 persons, or 34.7% of that population, were not active.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, the activity rate of both the employed and unemployed populations was estimated at 80.9% of the working-age population. A comparison of the fourth quarter of 2022 with the same quarter of 2021 shows an increase of 1.1%. Persons between the ages of 25 and 54 registered the highest activity rate, at 91.3%.

The share of employed persons

Among the female working population, 38.0% were working in the sectors of public administration, defence, education, healthcare and social work; 21.0% were working in the wholesale and retail sector, the motor vehicle and household appliance repair sector, hotels and restaurants and the transport sector; and 11.4% were working in the professional, scientific, technical, administration and social services sectors.

The majority of men (26.5%) were working in the retail and wholesale sector, the motor vehicle and household appliance repair sector, hotels and restaurants and the transport sector; 16.7% were working in the public administration, defence, education, healthcare and social work sectors, followed by manufacturing, quarrying and other industries with 15.4%.

In general, the most common job category was the professional sector, which accounts for 60 522 persons or 20.8%. This category includes doctors, dentists, pharmacists, engineers, teachers, consultants and others. 31 656 women (or 25.6% of the total) and 28 866 men (or 17.3% of the total) work in this sector.

Between October and December 2022, the majority of people were employed on a full-time basis (254 780, or 87.6%), while 36 215 (or 12.4%) were working on a part-time basis. The number of self-employed persons amounted to 15.0% of the entire working population.

The annual gross salary per month of employees was estimated at EUR1 785. This amount refers to the basic salary and excludes additional payments such as overtime, bonuses and allowances. On a sector basis, the highest average gross annual salary was registered for employees in the finance and insurance sector, whereas the highest average salary for a main occupation was recorded among management administrators.

The share of unemployed persons

Between October and December 2022, the estimated unemployment rate stood at 2.9%. The 25-to-74 age group registered the highest rates of unemployment. Among the unemployed population, 67.6% said they had been looking for a job for less than 12 months.

Source: Labour Force Survey – October and December Q4/2022, issue No 044/2023

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According to administrative information on vacancies in the PES (Public Employment Service), the 20 most requested job/skill types between October and December 2022 were as follows:

At the end of January 2023, 29% of persons registering for employment with Jobsplus (PES) sought mainly clerical work, 16% sought work in sales and services, and 15% sought work in the technical and professional sectors.

A total of 23% of men and 42% of women registering for employment sought clerical work; 16% of men and 18% of women sought work in sales and services; and 15% of men and 16% of women sought technical and professional work.