There is rising concern over unemployment and the lack of new job opportunities in Malta, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey.
Although irregular migration remains the top concern on the Maltese agenda, it is now closely followed by the issue of rising unemployment, according to the survey that was conducted in March among 500 respondents.
But 46 per cent believe the coming year will be better in economic terms
While immigration was mentioned by 43 per cent as the most important issue facing Malta – a decrease of 20 per cent compared to the same survey conducted six months ago – rising unemployment was the second biggest cited issue of concern.
According to the results, 28 per cent of Maltese now perceive unemployment as the second most worrying issue facing the island, an increase of 17 per cent.
Unemployment and the lack of job security could also be detected from other aspects of the survey.
Asked about their perception on the current employment situation in Malta, the majority, 50 per cent, described it as good. However, this is two percentage points down on last year.
On the other hand, those describing the situation as bad increased to 38 per cent from 36 per cent.
When asked how they viewed their personal job situation in the next 12 months, only 21 per cent predicted it would be better, a decrease of four per cent.
At the same time those who felt the situation would get worse increased to three per cent from one per cent, while those who replied they did not know increased by 10 per cent, reaching 30 per cent.
According to the most recent statistics, Malta still enjoyed low unemployment levels when compared to other EU member states.
However, at a 6.8 per cent unemployment level registered in March, Malta saw its position in the EU’s unemployment ranking move to sixth from fourth.
At the same time, unemployment in the EU is falling.
On the positive side, the Eurobarometer results show that people are quite confident in the future economic performance of the island, with the majority – 46 per cent – believing the coming year will be better in economic terms; up four per cent.
On the other hand, the number of those perceiving a worse economic situation also increased by four per cent – reaching 11 per cent when compared to last autumn.
Trust in the government is up to 50 per cent last March from 48 per cent in September 2013.
Those who said they did not trust the government stood stable at 33 per cent.
The latest Eurobarometer survey also confirmed that disagreement on Malta’s place in the EU, which was experienced a decade ago, has now been completely buried.
Three out of every four Maltese respondents said the island’s place was in the EU while 69 per cent agreed that Malta’s membership in the eurozone was a positive thing