Country needs 77,000 more workers
More than 77,000 people would need to enter the labour force in the next decade if Malta is to reach its EU-set target of having 70 per cent of the adult population working, a report points out.
The Skills For The Future report notes that the seven job areas identified by the government, to turn Malta into a centre of excellence by 2015, have the potential of generating about 30,000 jobs - falling short by over 50 per cent.
The government-identified areas include the tourist sector, financial services, health, education, communication and IT, manufacturing and Gozo as an ecological island.
Yet the report, launched yesterday by the National Commission for Higher Education, forecasts qualifications and skills gaps in Malta in comparison with EU countries. It recommends more research be carried out to identify these gaps.
According to the report, in the next 10 years 37,000 jobs will be made vacant by retiring workers. Additionally, 40,000 jobs will be needed to increase the activity rate of people at work from 59 per cent to 70 per cent and reach the Lisbon target for 2010.
This means that, in total, over 77,000 people will have to join the workforce if Malta is to have an efficient labour market.
"Creating more jobs and increasing activity in the labour market derives from the need to sustain increasing social costs, such as the ageing population, lower birth rates and increasing competition. This creates the need to spread the future burden on a broader share of the working age population," the report says.
This implies that, for female participation rates to reach 41 per cent (another Lisbon target) over 16,000 women will have to start working.
The employment rate of 55- to 64-year-olds will have to increase by 3,400 workers to reach 35 per cent.
Moving to education, the report explains that participation rates in different fields of study and at different levels of education define the potential of Malta's future workforce. The EU-commissioned report - Future Skills Needs in Europe - forecasts the necessary distribution of qualifications the EU will need in 2015.
According to this forecast, the EU labour market will require 20.8 per cent low qualifications (until lower secondary level), 49.9 per cent medium (until post-secondary, non-tertiary) and 29.3 per cent high (tertiary level).
However, in 2007, 75 per cent of Malta's working age population had low qualifications putting the country at a competitive disadvantage.
The NCHE report shows that for Malta to reach the competitive labour force qualification distribution by 2015 it would require 55,000 more high qualified workers and 99,000 more with medium qualifications. The rate of low qualified workers will have to drop by about 77,000.
The government's targets outlined in the National Reform Programme aim to have 85 per cent of students entering post secondary and 35 per cent pursuing tertiary education in 2015. According to the report, these targets would only produce 21,000 workers with high education levels and 35,000 with medium levels.
In view of these shortfalls, the report recommends more research be carried out to anticipate skills gaps and that they be addressed; that more synergy is needed between education, business and government agencies; that guidance services should be professionalised in schools and in other education institutions; and that a more responsive education sector is developed.
The report's findings will be considered in the formulation of the Strategy on Further and Higher Education 2020 to be launched in April.
The full report can be viewed on www.nche.gov.mt.
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Connie Spiteri
Mar 4th 2009, 09:42
Doing what, if I may ask? Working at call centres with good pay but miserable conditions? Working as chambermaids or waitresses? Working as sales assistants in shops? All these EU targets will remain nothing but targets that will never materialise unless we have a real government that CREATES worthwhile jobs.
D.Galea
Mar 4th 2009, 08:45
This must really be my lucky day, so many job my goodness!! where do I apply!? :) Ah sorry I wasn't referring to Malta!!!
O.Grixti
Mar 4th 2009, 08:14
Do we have work for 77000 more people?
Companies are firing people and you say you need more workers??
M. Sammut
Mar 4th 2009, 00:39
I totally agree with P. Snell. I'm currently looking for a job and have been sending tens of applications lately. At times I wonder if I even sent them to the right place as I hardly receive any acknowledgements, let alone interviews or jobs. I have good qualifications (up to a diploma) and vast experience in various sectors but they serve for nothing. Much has been advertised about teleworking, flexi-time etc. but where are these jobs???!! Sometimes I wonder if the vacancies which there are on papers or websites are true or fake, just to make believe that the country isn't in deep crisis.
S. Calleja
Mar 3rd 2009, 20:19
...and I just recalled three other good friends of mine working in the UK. One is a pharmacists who works with Procter & Gamble, the other two are an archeologist and a doctor. Another couple working in the UK are befriended to my fiancee, whereby he's an engineer. I also recalled an IT administrator good friend of mine in Cyprus, who is originally from Gozo but born in Toronto. And a couple of Maltese doctors who left for Australia spring to mind just now, plus another doctor in Rochester, Minneapolis, USA.
These are people who have names of course, but it's not ethical to identify them.
I know others then who are doing post-graduate degrees in the UK, and who will probably stay there once they finish their studies. These include some of my collegues from way back at University, and others who are ex-students of mine.
Now that's just me, and I don't consider myself to really know a lot of people.
S. Calleja
Mar 3rd 2009, 18:54
@ A Anderson
Brain drain a myth? You must be joking. Most of my friends have already left, as follows:
* 2@Luxembourg. One is training with Luxair to become a pilot, which will involve spending a lot of time in Phoenix, Arizona, US for training. The other at EU parliament.
* 2@Netherlands. IT Professionals.
* 1@Brussels
* 4@UK: a doctor, an architect, a dentist and a computing professional.
* 3@Ireland. One of them came back, but is changing his mind. His sister and his family are in Ireland.
Another acquaintance (a manager) came here from Ireland and was having big problems with getting his car into Malta. I lost touch with him, but last time I spoke with him, he was planning to pack his bags again.
* 1 @ New York: IT professional.
* 2 @ Australia: IT administrator and a hospitality manager.
* Cyprus: Businessman left with family to set up elsewhere, taking a couple of his employees with him.
There are also a few others (doctors mainly) with whom I lost touch.
I'm off soon too. Still in doubt?
Joseph Howard
Mar 3rd 2009, 18:37
So if we need to reach the Lisbon treaty why dont we introduce real flexible hours & not hindered ones that tend to hinder instead of help, espically for females who have kids to support. Why dont we fix our education system to be more plesent than a strain on our young ones?
A Anderson
Mar 3rd 2009, 17:38
Is anyone doing anything about the potential 'brain drain'?
Is anyone discussing this as a variable?
One cannot say it is a myth anymore, or can we?
Are there any facts or figures?
Evelyn Debrincat
Mar 3rd 2009, 17:13
Therefore thousands of jobs have to be created. How???
Gerald Cassar
Mar 3rd 2009, 16:57
Is this a subtle intrusion in the illegal immigration problem. The timing is perfect.Beware! No more said.
S. Calleja
Mar 3rd 2009, 15:11
The skilled people in this country are leaving and settling elsewhere (Ireland, UK, Luxembourg, Belgium being the most popular destinations, and some even venture Australia). In my opinion, unskilled workers are still here because in Malta we reward unskilled workers and punish the skilled ones, so if you're unskilled, it pays to stay here.
Wake up and smell the coffee.
M. Mercieca
Mar 3rd 2009, 15:00
Babies : WANTED
EU has a ‘dangerous’ population deficit.
Question-How many illegal, irregular, regular, un-documented, documented, welcomed, unwelcome, black, white, grey, African, Asian, religious or pagans would the European Union need to fulfill Europe's hunger for workers in order to work and collect taxes for ageing European populations?
Answer: By year 2025 Europe needs not less than 15 Million.
Would MALTA accept Millions of illegal immigrants? Certainly not.
But the EU may only require skilled immigrants?
The European Commission should provide adequate finance to the European Union countries (Mainly southern countries) not only to feed or shelter the immigrants but also to create a training center ETC-style. This center is to provide training to semi and or un-skilled immigrants and may also provide opportunities (within) for some unemployed Maltese. In my humble opinion this is how to turn a ‘problem’ into a good opportunity-I guess this is where the EU politicians heading anyway.
To live comfortably we had fewer babies in our families and now we are facing population deficit.
The only solution left f is to marry and produce babies but not out of wed-lock, this would bring more disasters.
deb bugeja
Mar 3rd 2009, 14:39
They should have said that the country needs 77,000 more jobs rather than workers. we do have the workers but certainly not the jobs
simon james schembri
Mar 3rd 2009, 13:22
what we need is for men and women to get married, stay married and have 3 -5 children per couple. That way we can re-build the population pyramid, and all problems will sort themselves out.
If we have a growing population, due to an increase in maltesechildren, we will have an increase in the natural growth rate of the economy. More children = equals more spending on all things as they grow and become adults. The process of a child growing into an adult in itself generates ecoconomic activity in a number of secotrs, without the need for artificial inflation as forseen by the ECB's target rate of 2% per annum.
Natural growth = real economic growth without inflation
J Borg
Mar 3rd 2009, 12:14
Employ all those whom you left unemployed following their graduation!!!! I haven' earned a cent yet after graduating!!!
D.Galea
Mar 3rd 2009, 12:14
A simple comment: If the government is to even expect to have an increase of the working force he better start by increasing wages to european standards as like this it can barely keep the work force that it already has!
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Mar 3rd 2009, 11:43
Mela l-esperti qalulna li l-privatizzazzjoni, il-globalizzazzjoni u n-nuqqas ta' xkiel minn kontrolli ser iwasslu ghall-genna ta' l-art, gabu l-ikbar krizi monetarja li qatt rajna. Qalulna li rridu l-immigrazzjoni biex ikollna haddiema ha jhallsu t-taxxa li minnha nhallsu l-penzjonijiiet. Ma qalulniex x'naghmlu meta dawn l-immigranti jaslu ghall-penzjoni, indhahhlu eponenzjalment iktar immigranti. Qalulna n-nisa jridu johorgu jahdmu, wara rridu nhaddmu l-min jiehu hsieb it-tfal zghar li jitilghu delinkwenti u injoranti, inhaddmu iktar pulizzija biex jaqbduhom u haddiema fic-centri ta' kontra d-droga halli jikkurawhom, etc etc. Kieku dawn l-eperti jharsu ftit l-hinn minn imnehirhom u ftit iktar il-boghod mis-sawndbajt tal-mument, forsi jieqfu jahsbu, jitghallmu mill-imghoddi u jaghrfu jaghtuna pariri siewja fl-ahhar
P.Snell
Mar 3rd 2009, 11:40
Reading this article I am astounded by the figures, I have lived here just over 3 months, and have applied for numerous jobs, with no success, I have enquired about vacancies to no less than 50 companies, and only 2 had the decency to reply. Also some are still deciding after advertising weeks ago, whats the point, surely if someone advertises they are needing someone to do the job. The mind boggles. If this country is to reach anything like the figures quoted, something drastic needs attending to.
M. Dalli
Mar 3rd 2009, 11:09
Government policies unfortunately do not encourage mobility for those who seek working opportunities abroad to acquire more skills or experiences. They only favour the managerial positions as they can return to their job in Malta after 10 years. Young workers who want to better their skills by new experiences abroad are not given the same number of years to return to their country. This is a great missed opportunity for Malta where human resources are being wasted, not directed to better the young or unskilled labour force and neither to have a long-term labour strategy. Maltese workers are often found to be hard-working, reliable and multi-lingual but sadly they are not looked for to return by their own country who has paid for their education. What a waste of money!
C. Scerri
Mar 3rd 2009, 10:51
Oh come off it! Why do you put in illegal immigrants in all your arguments!
Regardless if I agree with it or not (personally I am not in agreement with someone forcing others to work by force), the article clearly states - "70% of the adult (Maltese) population" and not just that we need 77000 more workers - if anything it is the heading that is misleading!
Alex Spiteri
Mar 3rd 2009, 09:56
is this the hidden agenda of the government, to have illegal immigrants filling this void in the labour force?!
the failure of modern day politics...politics serving economics, when it should never be so!
Moira Heath
Mar 3rd 2009, 09:50
Women should stay at home taking care of their families, women should join the workforce to create an efficient labout market... Iddeciedu !!!
John Portelli
Mar 3rd 2009, 09:49
So this must be the EXCUSE to keep the african migrants in MALTA.If this is true which I find very hard to believe.Because here in Perth Western Australia we need 50,000 in a state the size of Germany,France and spain with a population of 2 million.And Gozo is just for ecology like Gozitans don't want to work in factories etc etc??.What are Gozitans 2nd rate citizens? And the article says that 16,000 women WILL HAVE TO START WORKING. No wounder the birth rates contiues to fall.Seems like the EU wants people to LIVE TO WORK rather WORK TO LIVE.