Four new incentive schemes launched to strengthen quality jobs and sustainable growth in Gozo

Four new incentive schemes have been launched to further stimulate economic activity and support quality employment in Gozo, Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri has announced.

The schemes – Supporting Sustainable Quality Employment, Supporting Knowledge-Based Sectors in Gozo, Supporting Marketing Initiatives for the Accommodation Sector in Gozo, and Promoting Gozo’s Niche Tourism Markets – form part of a broader strategy to strengthen the island’s economic resilience while improving job quality.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr Camilleri noted that unemployment in Gozo is now “practically non-existent”, shifting the policy focus towards encouraging higher value-added roles and more stable employment conditions.

“In recent years, Gozo’s economic progress has been unprecedented,” he said, citing data from the National Statistics Office showing that Gozo’s GDP has grown by 61 per cent over the past four years.

He added that high-value sectors have seen notable expansion, with employment in financial and insurance activities increasing by 38 per cent, while the information and communication sector grew by 36 percent over the same period.

The Supporting Sustainable Quality Employment Scheme is designed to incentivise more secure jobs offering competitive wages. To qualify, roles must be based in Gozo, with employees also residing on the island, and must have been created from November 2025 onwards. Over the past two years, the scheme has already generated €348,000 in incentives.

Meanwhile, the Supporting Knowledge-Based Sectors in Gozo Scheme aims to further develop high-value employment across legal, financial and digital industries. It follows similar eligibility criteria and has provided €122,000 in incentives in the past two years, with around 60 per cent directed towards these sectors.

Tourism-focused initiatives also feature prominently. The Supporting Marketing Initiatives for the Accommodation Sector in Gozo Scheme offers assistance to operators looking to invest in more targeted and professional digital marketing campaigns, with the aim of attracting higher-value tourism.

Complementing this, the Promoting Gozo’s Niche Tourism Markets Scheme supports operators in participating in international tourism fairs and running promotional campaigns that position Gozo as a distinct, experience-driven destination.

Mr Camilleri said the measures form part of a long-term vision for a stronger and more sustainable Gozo, where economic growth is aligned with residents’ quality of life.

“We will continue investing in measures that create new opportunities, strengthen strategic sectors and position Gozo at the forefront as a modern, resilient and innovative economy,” he said.

Further information and applications for the schemes are available through Invest Gozo.