Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/451763
17 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 JANUARY 2015 JAMES DEBONO DESPITE a lull in migrant arrivals before last Thursday concern on im- migration has risen by four points since November. 2014 saw the number of migrants reaching the Maltese coast decreas- ing from 2008 in 2013 to 568 in 2014. Despite decreasing numbers im- migration has overtaken traffic, which was the top concern in the November survey. Concern on traf- fic remains high but has declined by seven points since November when it peaked at 23%. Respondents were asked to men- tion the two main problems facing the country. The biggest percentage point in- crease over November was registered by respondents mentioning petrol prices as a major concern. Concern about petrol prices has risen from 0% in November to 10% now. Concern on petrol prices is just two points lower than that on the cost of living. The survey was conducted before the PN launched its fuel website, which claims to calculate the amount the government 'steals' every time people buy fuel. Despite the absence of any boat arrivals in the past months concern on migration has gone up by eight points since March 2014. The survey shows that concern on traffic has gone down from the record levels registered in Novem- ber but remains substantially higher than in March. While in March only 7% mentioned traffic as one of the two main prob- lems facing the country, the percent- age has now risen to 16%. Moreover 4% and 8% of respond- ents mentioned roads and public transport respectively as their main concerns. The survey shows that 28% of re- spondents mentioned at least one is- sue related to transport. On the other hand the survey shows concern on jobs falling from 21% in March to just 7%. This suggests that most Maltese do not consider unemployment much of a problem, reflecting statistics showing an in- crease in employment figures. Concern about the cost of living has been stable at 12% over the past year. In the wake of delays on the new power station, concern on energy issues had also shot up from 3% in March to 7% in November. But con- cern on energy issues has now fallen back to 2%. Concern on the environment (mostly on development issues) has remained stable at five points, slight- ly higher than in November but three points lower than in March 2014. One in 3 Labour voters concerned by migration Labour voters are more likely to be concerned about traffic and im- migration but are less likely as PN voters to be concerned with petrol prices. Immigration tops the concern list of both PN and PL voters. But while 21% of PN voters list mi- gration between their top two con- cerns, 33% of PL voters do likewise. Concern on traffic is also six points higher among PL voters. One reason for this could be that PL voters are less likely to mention problems which can be blamed on the government of the day. Problems like roads, traffic and to a certain ex- tent migration are not directly attrib- utable to the present government. On the other hand only 4% of PL voters are concerned by higher fuel prices. But the percentage rises to 18 points among PN voters. This suggests that PN voters are more susceptible to PN propaganda on this issue. But concern on fuel prices is also high among undecided respondents, 16% of whom list higher petrol prices as a major concern. Post secondary educated concerned by petrol prices Respondents with a post secondary level of education (those who con- tinued studies after secondary level but did not go to university) are the most likely to be concerned by rising petrol prices. Disgruntlement among this cat- egory may be bad news for the gov- ernment. For it was within this cat- egory that a major shift towards the PL occurred before the 2013 general election. Among this category fuel prices are seen as a major concern by 14% and are only second to immigra- tion. Concern on petrol prices is also high among the university educated (13%) but lower among those with a secondary and primary level of edu- cation (7%). Concern about traffic is highest among the university educated (23%) while that on the cost of living is highest among those with a primary level of education (18%). Concern on immigration is highest among re- spondents with a secondary level of education (31%) and lowest among those with a university level of edu- cation (16%). Concern on immigra- tion is also particularly high among those with a post secondary level of education (27%). Methodology 762 respondents were contacted by telephone between Wednesday 7 and Tuesday, 13 January. The survey was stopped when a 500-quota sample was reached. Respondents were told that Mal- taToday was conducting the survey. Its results were weighted to reflect the age and gender balance of the population.The survey has a margin of error of +/-4.4%. Respondents were asked how they voted in the 2008 and 2013 elections. MaltaToday Survey Concern on petrol prices increases by 10 points Despite lull in arrivals migration is Malta's top concern again