Maltese workers log longer hours than EU counterparts

Maltese workers have recorded longer working hours than their EU counterparts in 2023.

Data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) found that Maltese full-time employees logged an average of 40.4 hours per week in 2023, exceeding the EU average of 39.6 hours. This trend of longer working hours has been consistent over recent years.

The gender gap in working hours is also evident; in 2023, male full-time employees in Malta worked an average of 40.7 hours per week, while their female counterparts worked 39.9 hours, both surpassing the EU averages of 40.1 hours for males and 38.9 hours for females.

In the same report, the NSO highlights that while Malta has made commendable progress in reducing the number of early leavers from education and training (ELET), the nation still falls short compared to its EU peers.

In 2023, Malta’s ELET rate was recorded at 10.2 per cent, a significant reduction from 14.0 per cent in 2018. However, this figure still surpasses the EU average of 9.5 per cent.

The disparity between genders is particularly pronounced, with the ELET rate for males in Malta at 12.5 per cent, markedly higher than the 7.6 per cent rate for females. This suggests that young men in Malta face a greater risk of leaving education or training prematurely compared to their female counterparts.

On a more positive note, Malta’s labour market has experienced remarkable growth. The activity rate for individuals aged 15-64 rose from 74.1 per cent in 2018 to 80.7 per cent in 2023, largely driven by increased female participation in the workforce. The female activity rate saw an impressive surge of 9.7 percentage points during this period.

Between 2018 and 2023, Malta’s labour market experienced significant expansion, particularly within the 15-64 age group, where the activity rate increased from 74.1 per cent to 80.7 per cent. This growth was predominantly driven by female participation, whose activity rate rose by 9.7 percentage points, compared to a 3.1 percentage point increase for males. The highest activity rates were observed among individuals aged 25 to 54, with 96 per cent of males employed and a notable 10 percentage point increase for females in this category.

In 2023, 78 per cent of individuals aged 15-64 were employed. Male employment rates experienced an annual growth of 0.7 per cent, while female rates saw a more robust increase of 1.9 per cent per year. Malta’s national employment rates consistently exceeded those of its EU counterparts, especially among the 15-24 age group, where 50.4 per cent of Maltese youth were employed, compared to just 35.2 per cent in the EU.

While the gender employment gap narrowed between 2018 and 2023, primarily due to initiatives aimed at enhancing female workforce participation, Malta’s employment gender gap in 2023 was still 4.3 percentage points above the EU average. The service sector was the leading contributor to employment growth, with its share rising from 57.0 per cent in 2018 to 63.1 per cent in 2023.

Unemployment rates in Malta have steadily declined, reaching 3.5 per cent in 2023, which is below the EU average. Youth unemployment stood at 5.1 per cent, also lower than the EU average. Furthermore, Malta’s NEET rate, which reflects the percentage of young individuals not in employment, education, or training, was 8.2 per cent, lower than the EU figure. Notably, long-term unemployment in 2023 was exceptionally low at 0.8 per cent, 1.3 percentage points beneath the average.