The total number of individuals on the employment register has gone down by almost 31% in a year, statistics published by the National Statistics Office reveal. Over a period of three years, the figure rises to 68%.
This brings the total amount of people registering for work today at only 2,000.
A decline of 812 persons registering under Part I and a decrease of 77 among those registering under Part II of the unemployment register, was registered, when compared to January 2017.
This is backed by Malta’s strong economic growth rates. The European Commission, in its Winter 2018 Economic Forecast, said that Malta’s 2017 growth rate stood at 6.9%, with 2018’s growth rate forecasted at 5.6%. Such growth rates, which in turn sustain the growth in jobs, is mainly due to private consumption.
“Private consumption is expected to become the main driver of growth on the back of strong employment growth, improved consumer confidence and growing disposable income” the European Commission states.
The NSO’s report says that number of persons with a disability who were registering for work also dropped by 35 when compared to the previous year reaching 284. Men accounted for 78.2 per cent of total registrants with a disability.
The largest share of men and women on the unemployment register sought occupations as clerical support workers with 18.7 per cent and 35.8 per cent respectively.
Sources:
NSO Registered Unemployment January 2018
European Commission Winter Forecast 2018
