Malta has the second lowest youth unemployment rate in the European Union. Still, to its credit, the government is set on reducing further the number of young people who are out of school and still out of work.
Political debate over jobless figures is usually dominated by endless controversy over people the government takes on in the public service under several guises. Deflating the jobless figure by burdening the public service is never justified but, leaving this controversy aside, there is much that is admirable in the work being done to make work pay and reduce dependency on State aid.
The measures taken to encourage more women to join the labour market are producing results and, yet, the government appears determined to continue bringing the figure down. At 5.9 per cent, Malta last year had the lowest unemployment rate in the EU. The youth unemployment rate dropped to 11.8 per cent and was the third lowest rate in the EU. As at June this year, it dropped even further, making it the second lowest after Germany, no mean feat.
The rates for other EU states gives an indication of the harrowing situation some countries are facing today in battling youth unemployment and put the Malta situation in the right context. The worst rate is that for Greece, which has been wallowing in financial difficulties and has been giving the EU so many headaches over conditions for bailouts. Its rate stands at a staggering 53.7 per cent.
Other countries having high rates are Spain (49.2 per cent), Italy (44.2 per cent) and Portugal (31.7 per cent). Cyprus, often used in comparisons with Malta, has a rate of 31.7 per cent, which is quite high too. The EU average is 20.7 per cent and the euro area average, 22.5 per cent.
Malta has already taken measures to bring its rate down under the youth guarantee scheme but a new programme is being worked out to bring into the labour force some of the 7,000 ‘idle youths’ who are out of school and employment. Of course, a proportion of these young people may be working in the black economy, doing work and receiving State benefit at the same time. These would need to be officially harnessed into the labour market.
However, a significant number of those out of work are simply wasting their time, sleeping late and spending most of the little daytime they have on their computer when, with proper guidance, they can well be put on a course of further education or training that would lead them to have a career and a better life.
The programme is compulsory and those refusing to take part in it or in another training scheme stand to lose State aid. This is naturally the most difficult aspect of the programme as it would require expertise in directing the young people to workplaces that are most suited to their aptitude.
There would obviously also have to be a measure of flexibility and common sense in implementing it. This is not simply a matter of reducing the jobless figure just for Malta to be able to boast it has a record youth unemployment rate. What counts most is saving these young people from wasting the prime of their life.
Some may simply not want to listen but there are surely many others who will and, with the right guidance and training, can be set on a career path and be of value to themselves and their country.