Country fiche on gender equality and policy developments : Malta : 1st quarter 2015

Abstract

Women’s employment rate (15-64 years) in 2013 showed an increase from 2012 (46.6%, up 2.4 percentage points – 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 and well above the respective EU-28 average (69.4%). Consequently, the gender employment gap (27.5 p.p. in 2013), although decreasing, was the highest in the EU-28 and significantly higher than 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 the male rate stood at 15.6%, a marked 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. Although not the highest, the gender gap is ranked fourth among the EU-28.

Formal childcare for children under 3 years of age in 2013 showed a low coverage at 20%, which was 7 p.p. lower than the EU-28 average, even if a 3 p.p. improvement can be noticed compared to the year before. Formal childcare for children aged 3 years to compulsory school age in 2012 stood at 92%, which was 10 p.p. higher than the EU-28 average. Formal childcare for children aged from compulsory school age up to 12 years in 2012 was 100% (3 p.p. higher than the EU-28 average).