The unemployment rate in Malta dropped to 2.7% in the third quarter of 2025 from a revised 3.2% in the same period last year. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 1,005 to 9,434, while the number of inactive persons declined by 2,352 to 158,304. Women accounted for 58.6% of the total inactive population, and those aged over 65 made up the highest share of inactive persons. The main reason for inactivity relates to persons reaching retirement age or taking up early retirement (42.8%). Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to 81.6% from 80%, with the number of employed persons increasing by 15,598 to 337,234. The activity rate for the quarter went up to 84% from 82.7% a year earlier, with the highest rate recorded among persons aged 25 to 54 (92.8%). source: National Statistics Office, Malta

Unemployment Rate in Malta decreased to 2.70 percent in the third quarter of 2025 from 2.90 percent in the second quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Malta averaged 5.45 percent from 2001 until 2025, 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 February of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Malta decreased to 2.70 percent in the third quarter of 2025 from 2.90 percent in the second quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Malta is expected to be 2.80 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.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-09-15 09:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q2 2.9% 2.7% 2.7%
2025-12-11 11:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q3 2.7% 2.9% 2.9%
2026-03-12 10:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q4 2.7% 2.8%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 298738.00 298759.00 Aug 2025
Unemployed Persons 1236.00 1204.00 Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 2.70 2.90 percent Sep 2025
Wages 2131.54 2124.77 EUR/Month Sep 2025


Malta Unemployment Rate
In Malta, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.70 2.90 8.24 2.50 2001 - 2025 percent Quarterly

News Stream
Malta Unemployment Rate Drops to 2.7% in Q3
The unemployment rate in Malta dropped to 2.7% in the third quarter of 2025 from a revised 3.2% in the same period last year. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 1,005 to 9,434, while the number of inactive persons declined by 2,352 to 158,304. Women accounted for 58.6% of the total inactive population, and those aged over 65 made up the highest share of inactive persons. The main reason for inactivity relates to persons reaching retirement age or taking up early retirement (42.8%). Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to 81.6% from 80%, with the number of employed persons increasing by 15,598 to 337,234. The activity rate for the quarter went up to 84% from 82.7% a year earlier, with the highest rate recorded among persons aged 25 to 54 (92.8%).
2025-12-11
Malta Unemployment Rate Falls to 2.9% in Q2
The unemployment rate in Malta fell to 2.9% in the second quarter of 2025 from 3.2% in the corresponding period of the previous year. The number of unemployed individuals declined by 404 year-on-year to 9,978, while the number of inactive persons dropped by 749 to 163,517. Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to 79.9% from 78.5% in the second quarter of 2025, as the number of employed persons increased by 14,187 to 329,334. The activity rate for the quarter rose to 82.3%, compared to 81.1% a year earlier, with the highest rate recorded among individuals aged 25 to 54 (91.7%).
2025-09-15
Malta Unemployment Rate Falls to 2.7% in Q1
The unemployment rate in Malta fell to 2.7% in the first quarter of 2025, from an upwardly revised 3.3% in the corresponding period of the previous year. The number of unemployed individuals declined by 1,755 year-on-year to 9,054, while the number of inactive persons dropped by 2,509 to 160,886. Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to 80.4% from 78.4% in the first quarter of 2024, as the number of employed persons increased by 13,646 to 327,643. The activity rate for the quarter rose to 82.7%, compared to 81.2% a year earlier, with the highest rate recorded among individuals aged 25 to 54 (91.7%).
2025-06-13