Country fiche on gender equality and policy developments : Malta : 2nd quarter 2015

Abstract

Women’s employment rate (15-64 years) in 2014 showed an increase from 2013 (49.3%, up 2.3 percentage points – p.p.); however, it was still low when compared to the EU-28 average (59.6%). By contrast, men’s employment rate was 74.9%, up 0.8 p.p. from 2013 and well above the respective EU-28 average (70.1%). Consequently, the gender employment gap (25.6 p.p. in 2014), although decreasing, was the highest in the EU-28, and significantly higher than the EU-28 average (10.5 p.p.).

The unemployment rate (15-24) was especially high when compared with other age cohorts. Women’s rate in 2014 was 10.0% (a drop of 0.4 p.p. from 2013), while the male rate stood at 13.9%, a marked decrease of 1.3 p.p. from 2013. Figures for the 2014 EU-28 average were 21.4% and 22.8% for women and men, respectively. Although not the highest, the gender gap is ranked sixth 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 2013 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).