The unemployment rate in Malta rose to 3.5% in the first quarter of 2026 from 2.7% in the corresponding month of the previous year. The number of unemployed individuals increased 3,039 year-on-year to 12,093, while the number of inactive persons grew by 4,196 to 165,082. Women accounted for 56.9% of the total inactive population, with those aged over 65 representing the largest share (56.8%). The main reason for inactivity was people reaching retirement age or opting for early retirement (43%). Meanwhile, the employment rate fell to 79.6% from 80.4% in Q1 2025, despite the number of employed persons expanding by 6,039 to 333,682. The activity rate for the quarter also went up to 82.6% from 82.7%, with the highest participation recorded among those aged 25 to 54 (91.6%). source: National Statistics Office, Malta
Unemployment Rate in Malta increased to 3.50 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from 3.40 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Malta averaged 5.41 percent from 2001 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 8.24 percent in the third quarter of 2003 and a record low of 2.50 percent in the second quarter of 2023. This page provides the latest reported value for - Malta Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Malta Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.
Unemployment Rate in Malta increased to 3.50 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from 3.40 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Malta is expected to be 2.90 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Malta Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 2.70 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.