In 2012, full-time employees in Malta worked an average 1,961 hours, the highest number of hours worked in the EU, far above the 1,750 hours worked on average in the EU 28 and the 1,661 hours worked in the euro area. Specifically, Maltese workers worked far more than their counterparts in Belgium who worked an average 1,462 hours, in France (1,555), in Italy (1,565) and in Denmark (1,571).

This was revealed by Eurostat on Monday, which also said that workers in Malta had actually worked less in 2008 - 1,861 hours, although the agency warns the 2008 data may be underestimated.

But the same Eurostat release showed also that in 2012, Malta had among the lowest hourly labour costs in the EU28, substantially below the EU28 average and the EA18 average as well.

Malta's hourly labour costs in euros were estimated at €11.8, surpassing only those of the Czech Republic (€10), Croatia (€9.5), Slovakia (€9), Estonia (€8.6), Poland (€7.9), Hungary (€7.4), Latvia (€6), Lithuania (€5.9), Romania (€4.1) and Bulgaria (€3.4).

At the other end of the spectrum, the highest is Denmark with €40.1 an hour, followed by Belgium (€38), Sweden (€37.3), France (€34.6) and the rest of the EU Member States.

The figures for Malta exceptionally do not reveal the hourly costs in the manufacturing sector, in financial and insurance activities, education and human health and social work activities. In these sectors, the table says the figures are 'confidential' whatever that means.

The hourly costs that are given are in the construction (€9.4), wholesale and retail trade (€9.5), accommodation and food service activities (€7.7) and in the professional, scientific and technical activities (€11.9).

Between 2008 and 2012, hourly labour costs in Malta increased by 4.6%, of which 5.6% were increases in wages and salaries and -1.0% as for non-wage costs. This increase is among the lowest percentage increase among EU member states. Lower than Malta one only finds Ireland (3.9%), Cyprus (0.4%), Latvia (0.5%), and Lithuania (0.0%).

According then to another Eurostat release issued yesterday, labour costs in Malta (considered as nominal hourly labour costs) increased by 2.0% in Q3 2014, following a 3.3% increase in Q2, 1.7% in Q1, and a similar 1.7% increase in Q4 2013.

Malta's 2.0% increase in Q3 is above that of the EA18 (1.3%) and that of the EU28 (1.4%) but meanwhile Estonia registered a 6.3% increase, Slovakia a 5.7% one, Latvia a 5.4% one and Greece and Romania a 5.2% one. Cyprus saw a 2.8% decline, Ireland a 0.8% decline and Croatia a 0.3% decline.

Nominal hourly labour costs rose by just 1.5% in the business economy and by 2.6% in the mainly non-business economy.

As regards sectors, nominal hourly labour costs rose by just 0.6% in industry, by 4.4% in the construction industry and by 1.6% in the services sector.