Educational attainment and gender gaps in the Maltese labour force

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyse the main trends in educational attainment in Malta during the decade between 2010 and 2021 and to discuss factors that affect gender gaps in the Maltese labour force. Data show that the educational attainment in Malta has improved substantially during the period under consideration, but pronounced gender gaps remain. The paper considers two major factors that would seem to affect gender gaps in labour force participation rates, namely parenthood obligations and choice of study areas at tertiary level by women. The paper derives a number of policy implications from these findings, including that women should be encouraged to follow STEM subjects and that work-life balance initiatives are crucial for decreasing the gender gap in the labour force.