Tertiary education and employment in the European Union : a case study of Malta

Abstract

Education is heavily linked to economics and employment policy. In the European Union it is considered key for the acquisition of skills by the labour force, but also for the achievement of improved economic growth and better employment opportunities. Over recent years Malta has registered significant progress in tertiary education attainment and tertiary qualified labour force. Nevertheless, industry keeps facing major challenges brought about by labour and skills shortages and mismatches. While both the EU and Malta boast high employment rates, it is necessary to identify what impinges this current state of things and to raise awareness about the need for a more suitable and comprehensive data collection strategy on which policy can be tailored. The present work is intended to take stock of the labour status of graduates in Malta within the wider EU context. It focuses specifically on tertiary educated employees and their participation in the labour market. The issue of skills mismatches and skills shortages is taking centre-stage in labour market fora at both EU and national level. The challenge is to make optimum use of the current human resources in order to stimulate economic growth while individuals reap the benefits of their investment in education. A case study design focusing on Malta was selected for this research study, as the challenges presented are accentuated on this island state. A mixed methods approach was adopted to analyse existing quantitative data while primary data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with professionals in their respective fields. The study lists a number of recommendations as it seeks to help inform a long-term policy for sustainable education and employment.