Country fiche on gender equality and policy developments : Malta : 2nd quarter 2014

Abstract

Women’s employment rate (15-64) in 2013 showed an increase from 2012 (46.6%, up 2.4 p.p.); however, it was still low when compared to the EU-28 average (58.7%). By contrast, men’s employment rate was 74.1%, up 0.8 p.p. from 2012. Consequently, the gender employment gap (27.5 p.p. in 2013) although decreasing was high in comparison to the EU-28 average (10.7 p.p.). The unemployment rate (15-24) was especially high when compared with other age cohorts. Women’s rate in 2013 was 10.9% (a drop of 3.7 p.p. from 2012), while men’s rate at 15.6% marked an increase of 1.7 p.p. from 2012. Figures for the 2013 EU-28 average were 22.7% and 24.0% for women and men respectively.

Formal childcare for children under 3 years of age in 2012 showed a low coverage at 17% which was 11 p.p. lower than the EU-28 average. Formal childcare for children aged 3 to compulsory school age in 2012 stood at 91% which was 8 p.p. higher than the EU-28 average. Formal childcare for children aged from compulsory school age up to 12 in 2012 was 100% (4 p.p. higher than the EU-28 average).

Key country features1: according to the latest Statistics on Income and Living Conditions Survey (SILC), 22.6% of households comprised single person households and 12.4% consisted of households with 2 adults and 2 dependent children. Budget 2014 announced that lone parents will be entitled to training courses to enhance their educational levels and employability. Free childcare and annual tax credits of EUR 200 for vocational training to EUR 1,000 for full time education will be given to participants. Persons at-risk-of-poverty in 2012 were single parent households, with 47.6% of persons in this category being at risk. The at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion rate for the same household category stood at 66.3 per cent. There were 4,078 registered live births in 2012, one-fourth were born outside marriage.