Youth employment in Malta

Abstract

The 15-24 age group in Malta constitutes 18. 7% of all the employed population (National Statistics Office (NSO), AprilJune 2005) (Table 1 ). The youth unemployment rate stands at a high 17 .5%, compared with the average unemployment rate of 7.8% (NSO, April-June 2005); 46.5% of all unemployed people are aged between 15 and 24 (NSO, April-June 2005). The figure decreased by 6.6 percentage points from the previous year (from 53.1 % in April-June 2004). There is no significant discrepancy between the number of unemployed men and women in the 15-24 age group (Table 2). However, the figures equate to 36.5% of all unemployed men and 63.1 % of all unemployed women. The higher female figure is because of the low economic activity rate of older women. A survey carried out by the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC, Malta's public employment service) among unemployed people aged between 16 and 24 revealed that 18.6% of respondents did not complete compulsory schooling. The main reasons for leaving school were to find work or being bored at school. Early school leavers managed to find full-time employment, but their jobs consisted of manual work. If they did not find work immediately, they were more likely to remain unemployed for a year or more than other young people. By 2010, the EU aims to have more than 90% of students staying on at school after the age of 16. Malta aims to have 65% of young people studying beyond compulsory schooling by 2010 (up from 51.5% in December 2003). While the EU aims to have 85% of all 22-year-olds with upper secondary qualifications by 2010, Malta aims to increase its rate from 47.5% in 2003 to 65% in 2010. While Malta's targets are less ambitious, they are more realistic.