Malta: Key findings from the skills survey of the working age population
In October 2022, the National Statistics Office introduced the Malta Skills Survey (MSS), a pioneering survey focused on assessing the skills of Malta and Gozo's working-age population. This nationwide survey aims to profile the workforce's skills to identify any gaps or mismatches, facilitating more effective training and retraining programs.
The survey sampled 130,000 individuals aged 15 to 64 years living in private households. The NSO ensured the sample accurately represented the population by considering sex, age group, region, citizenship (both national and non-national), and employment status. Only Maltese citizens and non-Maltese residents who had lived in Malta for at least five years were included. The MSS results will also provide valuable insights for policymakers and researchers, helping them understand which business interests could be attracted to the island based on the workforce's capabilities.
Key Findings:
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The survey identified skills across eight broad categories. The most common skills were computing (78.5%), communication and collaboration (70.6%), and assistance and care (65.6%).
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In the artistic and creative skills category, sports were most prevalent among the youngest group (15 to 24 years), while culinary skills were more common among those over 25 years.
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Construction and related skills were predominantly found among older males.
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Agriculture, fishing, and related skills were more prevalent in Gozo, with a higher proportion of individuals reporting these skills compared to the overall population.
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Nearly half of the males identified at least one skill in tools, machinery, and related skills, while the share for females was much lower (15.4%).
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About 75% of females reported having skills in assistance, care, and related areas, compared to 58.4% of males.
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Problem-solving was the most common skill within the communication and collaboration category among those aged 15 to 24 years (37.7%).
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The most common information-related skill was gathering information from physical or electronic sources (24.6%).
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Over three-quarters of the target population reported basic computer skills (76.8%).
Key Findings – Languages:
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The most commonly understood languages were English (96.0%), Maltese (90.4%), and Italian (62.0%).
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Italian and Arabic were more commonly known among individuals aged 25 and over, while French and German were more prevalent among the 15 to 24 age group.
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Advanced reading and writing skills in Maltese were less common compared to listening and speaking abilities.
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Advanced proficiency in both Maltese and English was more prevalent among females across all four language areas.
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Younger individuals were more likely to report advanced knowledge in one of the four language areas compared to older individuals.
Source: Eurydice Unit Malta
