Youths are more concerned about potential financial crises than they are about migration – which is the direct opposite of what adults said they are more concerned about between the two subjects, a new survey shows.

The survey commissioned by the European Investment Bank found that youths are nowhere near as concerned as their older counterparts about migration – but conversely, older members of the public are nowhere near as concerned about potential financial crises as youths are.

While migration is one of the top concerns for 68% of those between the ages of 50 and 64, for 63% of those between the ages of 30 and 49, and for 58% of those over the age of 65 – it is a top concern for only 34% of those aged between 20 and 29, and for 31% of those aged between 15 and 19.

Meanwhile 35% of those between 20 and 29 years of age saw financial crisis as one of the chief concerns of the country.  Only 12% of those between 50 and 64 years of age, and 16% of those between 30 and 49 years of age had the same thought.

This gives rise to some interesting social reflection, and throws further credence onto the belief that today’s youths are going to be the first generation to be handed a shorter end of the economic stick by the generation which they are coming after.

Delving into the answers of all 200 respondents, the survey found that the Covid-19 pandemic, migration, and political instability are the three biggest challenges facing Malta.

The same survey found that the Maltese are the people most in favour of stricter government measures which would force citizens to change their behaviour to tackle climate change in the European Union.

The Covid-19 pandemic was perhaps unsurprisingly the most mentioned challenge: 86% of respondents named it as one of the country’s biggest challenges.  The pandemic was overwhelmingly reported as the biggest challenge across all countries, with 72% of respondents across all 27 countries naming it as such.

The second most named challenge for Malta is that of migration.  56% of respondents listed migration as one of Malta’s biggest challenges – a figure which is unchallenged across the EU, perhaps indicating the strain that the island perceives itself to be facing when dealing with the migration crisis in the Mediterranean. 

Only Greece, itself on the frontline of migration from the Middle East – at 44% - comes remotely close to being as concerned as the Maltese are about migration.

The third most named challenge for Malta is then that of political instability. 41% of respondents listed this as one of Malta’s biggest challenges.  While the date of when this survey was conducted is not available, this may be an indicator that Malta still hasn’t quite gotten over the mass protests and political crisis that eventually saw former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat step down.

36% of respondents meanwhile listed climate change as one of Malta’s biggest challenges, followed by financial crisis (19%), unemployment (14% - the lowest out of all countries), lack of purchasing power (9%), access to healthcare and health services (4%), terrorism (2%), and cyberattacks (1%).