Unemployment up slightly, but still among lowest in EU
Unemployment in Malta grew by 0.1 per cent in July, but the level of unemployment was still among the lowest in EU member states, figures issued in Brussels today show.
According to Eurostat, Malta’s unemployment rate in July stood at 6.3 per cent, 0.1 per cent higher than the previous month but 0.6 per cent better than in July 2010.
Compared to the rest of the euro area, Malta’s unemployment rate in July was 3.7 per cent lower than that registered in the euro area (10 per cent). Malta’s unemployment rate is currently the fifth lowest in the EU.
According to Eurostat, compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in 16 member states and increased in 11. The steepest falls were observed in Estonia (17.9 to 12.8 per cent), Latvia (19.9 to 16.2 per cent) and Lithuania (18.2 to 15.6 per cent). The highest increases were registered in Greece (11 to 15 per cent), Bulgaria (10 to 11.5 per cent) and Slovenia (7.2 to 8.4 per cent).
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C Debono
Aug 31st 2011, 22:09
There is one point missing.. Wages in Malta are half if not one third of wages abroad.. So it's like companies get 2 workers for the price of 1 abroad.. This is why many foreign companies opened offices here and this is also the reason why unemployment here is lower than in many European countries.. But the fact is that our average wages are too low and no matter how much we work we still struggle to make ends meet! I'd like to see an article on the average Maltese wages compared with the average wages in the EU, together with a comparison on the average annual dispensable income.. That would be interesting to see!
John Zammit-Spiteri
Aug 31st 2011, 15:25
when it is good news for Malta and the Government is doing well . lejber is not amused. They think football is being played, so if one team scores it is to the detriment of the other team. Politics are not like that. When a party scores it is to be benefitted by all. Lejber never accepts that because they fail to be elected. Little do they know that if they honestly and sincerely change their attitude, they might entice me to vote for them. but how can i vote for a party who considers political positive gains a detriment to the opposing party?
For them opposition means opposing anything good as long as it is coming from the Nationalist Party!
The memory of the 80's are still ripe and the wound has not healed. Instead of showing us a positive come back to positive contructive politics we have to submit ourselves to answering back to positive constructive garbage!
Do you ever learn?
Nicholas Grech
Aug 31st 2011, 13:24
It does not matter how we compare to other countries!!! the fact is that unemployment is increasing and not decreasing....it seems all the jobs Gonzi keeps talking about are yet another LIE.
Mr John Said
Aug 31st 2011, 14:00
Please read the article again, even twice. Unemployment want down compared to previous year. Malta has the fifth lowest unemployment rate amongst Eu countries, i wounder how come with so much ignorance around!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gianninu Saliba
Aug 31st 2011, 14:19
Nicholas, do you know that the number of unemployed is less then half of what it was under Mintoff, and that is excluding more than double of July's unemployed being forced to join one of the many labour corps that your Golliath created.
Mr C Cassar
Aug 31st 2011, 14:22
Rubbish. Of course it matters how Malta compares to other countries, particularly in the EU. Their has been a global recession for the last 2 years so no country can be expected to improve it's employment situation in this environment. However, Malta is doing better than most at stemming what could have been a much steeper fall in employment.
The Maltese have much to be greatful for with such news and the fact that the government has been managing the economy in a very realtic manner considering the global downturn.
David Spiteri
Aug 31st 2011, 14:40
Nicholas, it would be better for us to check how many people register for work and STILL have a job. Apart from that, 0.1% is mediocre compared to the 0.6% decrease in a year. Just trying to start a fire now are you?
Michael Seychell
Aug 31st 2011, 14:55
Mr. N. Grech - In addition to Gianninu Saliba's comment you must also keep in mind that the number of employable persons in Malta under Mintoff/KMB was around 30,000 (thirty thousand) less than what it is today - and this proves that what EU statistics are factual and not lies.
One advise to you and to those who are claiming that M/LP will be governing Malta in less than two years time - you should stop the habit of stating that the EU statistics and those issued by the local NSO are all lies or worthless, since a future M/LP government will be quoting such statistics, and will insist that these will be factual - and so they are today!.
Michael Seychell
Tal-Pieta
Michelle Pirotta
Aug 31st 2011, 15:10
@/Nicholas Grech
Looking at what happens around us is essential. We do not live in a 'box' - and the situation has to be considered accordingly.
Moreover, to compare employment properly, one has to compare year on year.
July figures are obviously biased, as there is ALWAYS an increase of July and June. That happens because thousands of young people who finish Sixth Form, ITS, University and so forth have finished their education towards the end of June and obviously not all are able to find a job on the next day, hence a substantial number would be registering in July and August!
Mr charles vella
Aug 31st 2011, 15:14
Utter rubbish Nicholas! During Alfred Sant 22 months it was 9% unemployment... And if Labour stayed in government for 5 whole years it would be far more then 9% unemployment... And this without a global reccession! Be proud of your government, and be MALTESE not a lejber becAuse what the Maltese government is doing is for you and me, and he is making us shine, not shame like all the past Labour governments!!
Deo Catania
Aug 31st 2011, 16:04
Gonzipn lackies to the rescue, wonder why they defend this government so much!!!!
Carmel Cilia
Aug 31st 2011, 17:03
Gianninu why under Mintoff. Do you remember the years under Borg Olivier. Why stop short and quote 1971 onwards, why not the 1960's. You know that by the beginning of 1971 there was nothing left in Malta's coffers not even to pay the government employees. Gianninu half a truth is a lie my friend.
The truth is that in those far off days Malta was trying to make ends meet because we had no industries because Malta was geared by our masters the British for war operations only. After that the newly maltese governments tried to built up our industries. Eh the truth' how they lie in your name.
John Zammit-Spiteri
Aug 31st 2011, 17:44
@ deo catania
what an interesting question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we defend this government so much? easy and elementary. We are free , we are working, we are eating
we are travelling , we are living within the safe walls of the EU. we are a country respected by all countries. we are working together not as a party but as a country. now since you consider positive feedback as negative , you better go and check yourself mate.
You are using the same newspaper that lejber thugs burnt down in 1979, because they could not stand truth. in the lejber days it was illegal to say the truth. Today you are writing in this newspaper and you can do it freely.
This is the freedom we defend so much
something you never knew what meant