Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1527407
6 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 4 OCTOBER 2024 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 As a result, many Gozitans continue to re- ly on commuting to Malta for employment, with 3,650 residents making the journey to access greater job diversity in the neighbor- ing island. In fact, about 20% of Gozo's workforce commutes to Malta, with 50.8% of these commuters being male. While Gozo's employment landscape shows a growing number of full-time roles, the fact remains that the number of full-time workers exceeds the available jobs, prompt- ing ongoing challenges for residents seeking stable employment. In 2023, Gozo and Comino residents with a full-time job totalled 18,563, reflecting an increase of 4.9% when compared to 2022. The private sector accounted to 67.3% of the total. The largest share of Gozo residents with a full-time job in the public sector was in the public administration and defence; com- pulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities, amounting to 80.7% of total public sector. On the other hand, the largest proportion of full-time employed Gozo residents in the private sector worked in the wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food service activities, accounting to 31.2% of total private sector. In addition, the males who were Gozo and Comino residents and worked full-time were predominantly employed in the whole- sale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and stor- age; accommodation and food service activ- ities while the majority of females worked in the public administration and defence; com- pulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities. Meanwhile in 2023 as well, full-time em- ployment in Gozo amounted to 14,279, an increase of 5.8% when compared to 2022. Full-time employment in the private sec- tor accounted for 72% of the total and the males who worked in this sector accounted for 45.2% of total full-time employment in Gozo. The largest share of full-time employment in the private sector was in the wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; ac- commodation and food service activities at 34.2%. In the public sector, the share of public ad- ministration and defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities accounted for 76.4%. Full-time males in the Gozo region were predominantly employed in the wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food service activi- ties while the females were mainly employed in the public admin- istration and defence; compulsory social secu- rity; education; human health and social work activities. Commuters drive economic link between Gozo and Malta The reliance on commuter workers is a recurring theme in Gozo's economic structure. Out of the 3,650 Gozitans work- ing full-time in Malta, a majority of males were employed in the private sector, while most fe- males took up roles in the public sector. The public administration, social security, educa- tion, and healthcare sectors made up 90.4% of public sector em- ployment for Gozitans commuting to Malta, further underscoring the region's focus on these essential services. Beyond full-time employment, part-time jobs are also crucial for Gozo. The island saw a total of 6,462 residents in part-time roles in 2023, with 60.9% holding part-time jobs as a secondary source of income. The wholesale and retail sector, as well as transportation and food service activities, again played a dominant role, accounting for 31.1% of part- time jobs. Despite this growth in employment, some challenges remain. Gozo's labour market still relies heavily on Malta for job opportunities, as reflected in the high number of commuters. Additionally, Gozo's unemploy- ment rate remains modest, with only 6,046 part-time jobs recorded in the region, compared to 69,445 in Malta. The bigger picture: Malta's workforce also expands in 2023 In 2023, Malta also experienced significant growth in its workforce, with the total number of employed persons reaching 316,729, marking a 7.2% increase over the previous year. The majority of jobs were in the private sector, particularly in whole- sale and retail trade, transportation, accommodation, and food services, which accounted for 26.4% of total employment. Public sector roles also played a key part, especially in education, healthcare, and social services. This dynamic workforce highlights Malta's expanding economy and the broad range of employment opportunities available across sectors. During 2023, persons registering for work were largest in the Southern Harbour district (27%). Gozo residents total 18,563 full-time jobs, with 14,279 in local employment Percentage distribution of full-time employment of Gozo and Comino residents in Malta region by sector and sex: 2023 Full-time employment in Gozo and Comino region by sector, sex and year Full-time employment by region, sector and location