The information given in Parliament by Social Policy Minister John Dalli the other day again confirmed that even in a small country there can be distinct areas where unemployment seems to be endemic. Politicians, sociologists, educators and entrepreneurs may all have different explanations for this reality but they all agree that tackling hotspots of unemployment should be a priority for any government.

The unemployment hotspots seem to be Gozo and the south. The two need to be analysed separately.

Gozo's microeconomy has, for many years ,been based on agriculture, tourism, traditional manufacturing and public service activities. Agriculture is arguably less important now, both because fewer young people are interested in this laborious activity and also as a result of the liberalisation of the agricultural produce market since Malta joined the European Union.

Tourism in Gozo never really took off as a separate activity from tourism in Malta. Most tourists visit Gozo for a day or two as part of their longer holiday in Malta. This may not be enough to enhance the prospects of sustainable growth of this industry in the Gozitan economy.

Manufacturing in Gozo suffers from major disadvantages, mainly as a result of the tiny island being separated by a few miles of sea from Malta. However much the government may support industrial setups in Gozo through transport subsidies, industrialists will almost always be discouraged by the extra costs of setting up business there.

The case of the south is distinctly different. It is a sad fact that certain parts of the south of Malta, especially in Cottonera, are socially deprived areas. It may be because accommodation in the south is not as expensive as elsewhere, thus attracting families whose financial means are limited. In turn, many such families get caught up in a spiral of social deprivation because of unemployment, low educational attainment and other social factors that can render a family unit dysfunctional.

Travelling to the place of work is not a major factor affecting Maltese workers' ability to secure a job. This, of course, is different in Gozo. But educational attainment is. While statistics prove that students living in the south of Malta are less qualified educationally, the exact opposite is the case in Gozo.

These different realities call for different solutions. In the case of Gozo, the economy needs to be based more on those economic activities where the island enjoys distinct competitive advantages, such as niche tourism that needs to be marketed very differently from the same activity in Malta. It also needs a much more refined sensitivity to preserving environmental excellence, than unfortunately is the case in Malta.

In the case of the south, the government, with the help of the Church, needs to tackle the underlying social problems that are perpetuating social and economic poverty there. Investment in better social housing, specialised educational programmes to address the particular needs of children in these areas, and focused social assistance to families who cannot help themselves are obvious measures that must be considered.

One of the main strengths of the Maltese islands is the social cohesion that has always existed as a result of the importance that the various political leaders have given to social justice. Tackling the hotspots of unemployment should be yet another important objective in the country's political agenda.