The tourism industry in Malta has been confirmed as one of the main pillars of Malta's economy, at least in terms of jobs, as it provides employment to around 13,000 people. According to a new statistical publication issued by Eurostat, the EU's statistical arm, Malta has the largest share of tourism-related employment among the 27 EU member states.
In 2007, 8.3 per cent of all employment in Malta was related to the tourism industry, particularly hotels, restaurants and the catering sector. The average share of tourism in the EU is much lower and stood at just 4.2 per cent. Malta is closely followed by other top EU tourism destinations such as Spain (7.1 per cent), Greece (6.9 per cent), Austria (6.4 per cent) and Cyprus (6.3 per cent).
It is estimated that in 2007, 9 million people were dire- ctly employed in tourism in the EU.
With regards to Malta, Eurostat said that 25 per cent of those employed in tourism on the island had only a part-time job. The majority, 63 per cent of all employees were males while, 37 per cent, were females. The number of females working in the tourism industry is slightly higher than the country's average where only 33 per cent of all employable females actually have a job.
The statistics also show the predominance of youngsters in tourism employment.
58 per cent of all Maltese employed in tourism were under 34 years. Almost 25 per cent were even under 24 years. The level of education is low among tourism employees with only 22 per cent having post-secondary education. The others, 71 per cent, are considered to have only finished obligatory school.
The permanence of a tourism-job is also different from other types of employment. While the average stay with the same employer in Malta is 10 years, in tourism this goes down to six years.
On a general level, Eurostat said that the tourist accommodation sector in the EU accounts for more than 25 per cent of employment in the hotels, restaurants and catering sector and for slightly over one per cent of the entire labour market in the EU.
With a relatively high share of female workers (60 per cent) and of workers with low formal educational qualifications (36 per cent), tourist accommodation is a source of jobs for certain at-risk groups on the European labour market.
Nevertheless, the jobs tend to be less stable.
The tourism industry is strongly affected by seasonal influences, leading to - on average across the EU - 10 per cent more employment in the summer season.
In 2007, 8.3 per cent of all employment in Malta was related to the tourism industry, particularly hotels, restaurants and the catering sector. The average share of tourism in the EU is much lower and stood at just 4.2 per cent. Malta is closely followed by other top EU tourism destinations such as Spain (7.1 per cent), Greece (6.9 per cent), Austria (6.4 per cent) and Cyprus (6.3 per cent).
It is estimated that in 2007, 9 million people were dire- ctly employed in tourism in the EU.
With regards to Malta, Eurostat said that 25 per cent of those employed in tourism on the island had only a part-time job. The majority, 63 per cent of all employees were males while, 37 per cent, were females. The number of females working in the tourism industry is slightly higher than the country's average where only 33 per cent of all employable females actually have a job.
The statistics also show the predominance of youngsters in tourism employment.
58 per cent of all Maltese employed in tourism were under 34 years. Almost 25 per cent were even under 24 years. The level of education is low among tourism employees with only 22 per cent having post-secondary education. The others, 71 per cent, are considered to have only finished obligatory school.
The permanence of a tourism-job is also different from other types of employment. While the average stay with the same employer in Malta is 10 years, in tourism this goes down to six years.
On a general level, Eurostat said that the tourist accommodation sector in the EU accounts for more than 25 per cent of employment in the hotels, restaurants and catering sector and for slightly over one per cent of the entire labour market in the EU.
With a relatively high share of female workers (60 per cent) and of workers with low formal educational qualifications (36 per cent), tourist accommodation is a source of jobs for certain at-risk groups on the European labour market.
Nevertheless, the jobs tend to be less stable.
The tourism industry is strongly affected by seasonal influences, leading to - on average across the EU - 10 per cent more employment in the summer season.