People are called to take decisions along all the various stages of their life. Decisions taken during the later stages of formation can determine the course the individual embarks upon.

Several factors play an important part in making up one’s mind. A factor that weighs heavily on the decisions made by young Gozitans is the present and future opportunities of employment. Figures released by ETC show that the number of people registering for work in Gozo amount to around 700 and the number has been on an increasing trend for the last couple of years. What is even more worrying is the age distribution of those registering for work, with almost two-thirds aged between 20 years and 45 years.

To further compound the problem, existing employment opportunities are limited to certain sectors of the economy. In the past, people with differing levels of educations could look forward to secure a good job. Many looked towards the ‘traditional’ employment in the manufacturing and catering sectors while others ventured into new sectors which at that time were thriving and expanding.

Nowadays, this is no longer the case. Employment opportunities are limited to sectors which are not considered very attractive to young people, especially those that had to endure various years of studies. The few industrial initiatives and enterprises in Gozo cannot always offer what young and ambitious people are looking for. Part-time employment, which has been on the increase in Malta over the last few years, is also proving to be particularly hard to secure and seems to be available mainly during the summer months. Young people cannot be expected to build their future on such reality.

A recent study about young people in Gozo confirmed the difficulties that these face in entering into the labour market. They are encountering difficulties despite the fact that their level of education has increased over the years, with more students now securing tertiary and other forms of postsecondary and higher education.

Many young Gozitans have no other choice but to seek employment in Malta. Young Gozitans are challenged with this reality very early on in their lives unlike their Maltese counterparts. In fact some young people have to start travelling methodically from Gozo as early as 17 years of age.

Moving away from home at an early age provides some benefits. One surely appreciates, and I am the first to do so, the fact that living away from home for a lengthy span of time can be a very positive experience. It contributes to a sense of independence and autonomy.

Despite these, many other hurdles are faced by young Gozitans while living on his own in Malta. The early parting from the domestic maternal family can cause a great deal of disruption in the family dynamics. For example, young Gozitans couples who do set up home in Malta no longer have access to extended family networks that facilitate the transition to parenthood through assistance with childcare.

Many feel that the authorities are not sensitive enough to the challenges Gozitan youths face when working or studying in Malta. A case in point is the situation faced by Gozitan students pursuing their tertiary education in Malta. They face undue uncertainty before applying for tertiary education because they did not know what jobs would be available for them after finishing University. The Gozo University Group has complained on this issue on several occasions but nothing of concrete has been forwarded by the authorities. To all insult to injury, Gozitan University students must also face additional administrative problems.

Recently, the Gozo University Group stated that almost eight in ten Gozitan students use the public transport service in travelling to and from Malta. Out of these, three-fourth believes that the public transport reform did not improve their travelling.

Hurdles are also being created, even if unintentionally, by the University administration. During the last year, the University of Malta has launched a pilot project to enable Gozitan university students to sit for their June exams at the Gozo University centre instead of having to crossover to Malta or having to live in Malta during their exams. However, due to either unawareness of the real issues in play or due to unnecessarily burdensome regulations, the outcome from the pilot project felt short of expectations.

Young Gozitans must make enormous sacrifices on a daily basis, much more than their Maltese counterparts. The least the authorities can do is not to add to these burdens but being insensitive to their particular needs.

Dr Anton Refalo is Labour spokesman for Gozo