Malta’s workforce is made of tech-savvy communicators

Competence in computing, communication and collaboration were the most common skills held by Malta’s workforce, according to a Malta Skills Survey conducted by the National Statistics Office.

The nationwide survey was held between October and December 2022, and was intended as a national stock-taking exercise of Malta’s skills and qualifications among the working-age population, in order to shed light on the skills profile of Malta’s workforce.

A total of 130,000 individuals aged between 15 and 64 living in private houses were randomly selected to participate in the survey. This sample size represents roughly half of Malta’s workforce. Of the total sample, 103,062 were Maltese nationals while the rest were foreign residents who have been living in Malta for least five years.

The skills covered in the results were grouped into eight broad categories. The most common skill categories, meaning the categories where at least one skill was identified by working population, were computing (78.5 per cent), communication and collaboration (70.6 per cent), and assistance and care (65.6 per cent).

Over three-fourths of the workforce reported having basic computer skills (76.8 per cent) while the most common information and related skill within the workforce was gathering information from physical or electronic sources (24.6 per cent).

Within the artistic and creative skills category, sports were the most common skill among 15 to 24-year-olds, whereas culinary abilities were the most common among those over 25.

Skills within the construction and related skills category were most common among the older section of the surveyed male workforce.

Meanwhile, almost half of all men identified at least one skill in the tools, machinery, and related skills category, while only 15.4 per cent of women did.

On the other hand, almost 75 per cent of all women selected at least one assistance, care, and related skills, while 58.4 per cent of men did.

When comparing the responses from Malta’s two main islands, the category of skills related to agriculture and fishing was more common in Gozo, with the proportion reporting at least one skill being higher than that of the overall workforce.

Languages

The most common languages understood by the working population were English (96 per cent), followed by Maltese (90.4 per cent), and Italian (62 per cent).

The share of the target reporting advanced reading and writing skills in Maltese was much lower compared to listening and speaking abilities, while an advanced level of proficiency in both of Malta’s official languages was more common among women.

Knowledge of the Italian and Arabic languages was most common among persons aged 25 and over, while knowledge and the French and German languages were prevalent among the 15 to 24 age group.

Younger persons were more likely to report an advanced level of knowledge in one of the four language areas (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) when compared to their older counterparts.