In 2016, total employed persons (full-time and part-time as a primary job) in Malta amounted to 219,118, an increase of 5.2 per cent when compared to previous year. The shares of the Malta region by place of residence and place of work stood at 93.3 and 94.8 per cent, respectively.

The labour supply is composed of persons in employment and those registering for work, the latter also termed as active job seekers. To examine regional labour supply in Malta at NUTS 3 level, employment statistics are being presented under two different variants; by place of residence and place of work, respectively. Persons working outside their region of residence are normally referred to as commuter workers.

Total employed persons in Malta and Gozo and Comino regions

Employed persons in Malta region (by place of work), exceeded the total number of employed persons resident in Malta region (by place of residence). The contrary prevailed in the case of Gozo and Comino region. The difference represents the net balance of commuter workers across the respective regions. Commuter workers were predominantly Gozo and Comino residents working in the Malta region. On average, during the period 2010-2016 these accounted to 2,795 (Tables 1 and 2).

In 2016, the highest proportion of employed persons in MALTA were in wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food services activities (G, H and I) and the public administration and defence; compulsory and social security; education; human health and social work activities, 28.4 and 23.5 per cent, respectively.

Malta region had the highest proportion of employed persons in the wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food services activities, while in the Gozo and Comino region the majority worked in the public administration and defence; compulsory and social security; education; human health and social work activities.

Full-time employment: Malta region

In 2016, Malta residents who worked on a full-time basis reached 171,749, an increase of 5.2 per cent when compared to 2015. The private sector amounted to 76.8 per cent of the total, while the remaining worked in the public sector.