A quarter of last year's fifth formers are doing nothing, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said this morning.

Addressing the Malta Employers Association's 50th anniversary conference, Mr Bartolo said a study conducted last year had reached alarming conclusions about what youths were doing after completing school.

Only half of last year's fifth formers achieved the minimum requirements to continue studying.

"I know it sounds strange coming from an Education Minister, but I would rather these youths were working illegally than sitting around the house doing nothing," he said.

Mr Bartolo said the government was facing a major challenge motivating these youths and feared that it was already too late for many.

"It's hard to motivate disenfranchised 15-year-olds, just imagine a 23-year-old who has been out of training and work for several years. It is so difficult to resurrect these youths," he said.

The minister said the government was looking to change its approach by tailoring new training courses to the specific needs of these people.

However, government projections indicated that around 35 per cent of jobs could require high qualifications in the coming years.