Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will be facing a much more positive economic scenario than either of his two predecessors, as the accompanying tables show. The number of gainfully employed has grown by almost 10,000 since Eddie Fenech Adami won the 1998 election, while the number of unemployed rose from 7,910 in 1998 to 8,175 by the 2003 election but fell again last year to 6,659. The female participation rate improved from 36.6 per cent in 2003 to 40.6 per cent last September.

Tourism also dipped but recovered last year. Exports have also increased by €573 million.

The trade balance stood at -€607 million (-Lm260.6 million) in 1998, and -€565 million (-Lm242.60 million) in 2003. At the end of last year, it was -€1,161 million (-Lm498 million).