Foreigners accounted for 69% of workforce growth between 2012 and 2018

Malta’s workforce grew by 32%, or 59,000 workers, between 2012 and 2018, statistics show.

Jobsplus figures seen by BusinessToday indicate that foreign workers accounted for 69% – or almost seven in 10 – of new workers throughout the six-year period, while locals represented 31%.

As of 2018, Malta’s workforce was made up of a little over 77%, or 188,000, local workers and almost 23%, or 55,000, expats, the statistics show.

This contrasts considerably with the situation in 2012, when almost 92% of workers were locals and just over 8% were expats.

The percentage rise in the country’s workforce over the past six years is also significantly bigger than that of previous years. From 2004 to 2011, for instance, the total workforce in Malta rose by just under 12,000, or 19,000 new workers. Of these, 58% were locals and 42% were expats.

The figures indicate that, from 2010 to 2017, at an assumed average salary of €25,000 per year, the increased workforce contributed an additional €1.6 billion to the economy.

93% more women in workforce since 2005

Between 2005 and 2018, women’s participation in the workforce rose by 93%, reaching 80,000.

Female participation in the workforce has been mostly on the increase since 2009, the figures show. Measures implemented by the government over the past seven years, namely the free childcare scheme and in-work benefits, undoubtedly paid a part in boosting the rate of working women.

30% of locals, EU nationals in high-ranking roles

The figures show that the majority of employees – both local and foreign – in Malta’s labour market occupy sub-managerial roles.

Around 55,600, or 30% of Maltese workers are employed in managerial or professional positions. When it comes to EU nationals, about 10,300, or 30%, occupy managerial or professional posts

In the case of third-country nationals, just 13% have managerial or professional roles.