Malta Unemployment Rate Rises to 3.5% in Q2

The unemployment rate in Malta rose to 3.3% in the second quarter of 2026 from 2.8% in the corresponding month of the previous year. The number of unemployed individuals increased 2,158 year-on-year to 11,431, while the number of inactive persons grew by 378 to 164,136. The main reason for inactivity was reaching retirement age or taking up early retirement. Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to 65.9% from 65.5% in second quarter of 2025, despite the number of employed persons expanding by 11,198 to 339,935. The activity rate for the quarter also went up to 82.8% from 82.0%, with the highest participation recorded among those aged 25 to 54 (92.1%).

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%).

The unemployment rate in Malta rose to 3.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025 from a revised 3.1% in the same period last year. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 1,387 to 11,544, while the number of inactive persons grew by 2,699 to 165,967. Women accounted for 58.3% of the total inactive population, with those aged over 65 representing the largest share. The main reason for inactivity was people reaching retirement age or opting for early retirement (43.7%). Meanwhile, the employment rate edged up to 79.8% from 79.7%, with the number of employed persons rising by 9,465 to 330,614. The activity rate for the quarter also went up to 82.7% from 82.2% a year earlier, with the highest participation recorded among those aged 25 to 54 (91.9%).