Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1509678
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 OCTOBER 2023 SURVEY country has taken a wrong turn in purchasing power and the number of for- eigners. Overall, the only other major concerns mentioned by respondents are traffic (13%) and the inconveniences caused by construc- tion (8%). All other concerns are mentioned by less than 3% of respondents. A breakdown by age shows that respond- ents aged between 16 and 35 are the least concerned by the number of foreigners in Malta (18%) and most concerned on infla- tion (30%). On the other hand, respondents aged be- tween 36 and 50 are the most concerned with the presence of foreigner (34%). Concern on traffic is highest among 16- to 35-year-olds (17%) while concern on con- struction rises to 10% among those aged be- tween 51 and 65. On a regional level concern on foreigners in highest in the Labour leaning Southern Harbour region (34%) and lowest in Gozo (16%). Concern on inflation is highest in the Labour leaning Southeastern region (30%) which also includes the largest percentage of non-voters. Concern on construction is highest in Gozo a region where a record 7,447 new dwellings were approved between 2018 and 2022, of which 1,885 were approved last year. In Gozo concern on construc- tion (27%) ranks a close second to inflation (28%). At nearly 15%, concern on traffic is high- est in the Southeastern and the Northern regions. Government gets a pass mark When asked to rate the government's performance on a scale from 0 to 5, with 0 being very bad and 5 very good, respond- ents gave the government an average score of 2.5. A breakdown by age shows the govern- ment registering its lowest score among 36- to 50-year-olds (2.4) and its best score among over 50-year-olds (2.7). On a regional level the government is giv- en the lowest rating by inhabitants of the Western region (2.3) and inhabitants of the northern region (2.3). The government just scrapes the pass mark in the Labour lean- ing Southern Harbour and Southeastern regions, with a 2.7 rating while in Gozo the government score falls to 2.6. The government gets a 2.5 pass mark in the Northern Harbour region which in- cludes major urban centres like Sliema, Qormi and Birkirkara. A breakdown by education shows the gov- ernment getting its best score among those with a primary level of education (2.9) and its worse score among post-secondary and tertiary educated respondents (2.4). Significantly the government only gets a rating of 2.3 among the current crop of non-voters. Top 5 concerns - non-voters now Top 5 concerns - PL voters now Top 5 concerns - PN voters now