In recent years, Malta has seen major changes in the job market. A growing economy, new sectors expanding, and constant demand for more workers. Yet despite this growth, a sense of frustration is increasing among many young Maltese people who feel they are being left behind in their own country.

"I send one CV after another and don't even receive a reply," says a 24-year-old who has spent months searching for stable employment. This is not an isolated story. It is a reality many are living through silently - young people who studied, completed courses, invested in their future, yet still feel forgotten.

A sense of exclusion

Many young people are expressing the feeling that job opportunities are not reaching them equally. While companies continue advertising vacancies constantly, a number of Maltese applicants say that when they apply, they often are not even contacted for an interview.

This is creating a sense of discouragement and even self-doubt. Young people who were once full of motivation are now questioning whether they still have a place in Maltese society.

The frustration grows when they see an increasing number of foreign workers filling roles across different sectors. Although many agree that everyone has the right to work and build a better future, some feel that Maltese citizens are ending up at the back of the queue.

"It's Not Against Foreigners... But Where Do We Fit In?"

This is an important point many young people insist on. The issue is not based on hatred or discrimination against foreigners. In fact, many have foreign friends or colleagues and appreciate their contribution to the Maltese economy.

But the question remains: how is it possible that a young Maltese person born and raised in this country is finding it so difficult to enter the job market?

Some say companies prefer foreign workers because they accept lower wages or more difficult conditions. Others argue that certain sectors have become almost completely dependent on imported labour.

All of this is having a strong psychological impact on many young Maltese people, especially those who have been searching unsuccessfully for work for months.

Life has become more difficult

Apart from the challenge of finding work, many young people are facing an increasingly harsh economic reality. Rental prices have risen drastically, property ownership has become nearly impossible for many, and the cost of living is making even basic necessities harder to afford.

When a young person cannot find stable work or feels financially insecure, they begin losing confidence in themselves and in their future. Some are even choosing to leave Malta in search of opportunities abroad.

Ironically, while Malta is attracting more foreign workers, many young Maltese people are considering leaving their homeland because they no longer see a clear future there.

A society that is changing

The rapid demographic changes Malta has experienced in recent years are also impacting people's sense of identity and belonging. Some young people say they now feel like foreigners in their own country.

The Maltese language is being used less in certain workplaces, communities are changing rapidly, and many feel society is moving so fast that they cannot keep up.

This is not an argument against diversity or against other communities. Rather, it is a clear sign that many people feel a lack of balance and a lack of voice in the national discussion.

What are young people losing?

When a young person loses hope, society loses too. A country is not built only on economic statistics or growth figures. It is built on people who feel valued, included, and motivated to build a future.

When young people begin feeling that they do not belong, the risk of social problems, anxiety, depression, and isolation increases. Many are living with internal frustration that is not always visible from the outside.

The simple dream of having stable employment, saving money, and building a family is becoming increasingly difficult for many.

There is a need for a serious discussion

This is not an issue that should be used to create division between Maltese people and foreigners. It is an issue that calls for balance, planning, and policies that also place the needs of young Maltese people at the center.

There needs to be greater investment in youth training and skills, stronger protection for fair wages, and a system that ensures Maltese citizens do not feel forgotten in the labour market.

Companies also have a social responsibility. The economy cannot grow only through profit; it must also grow by building a sense of community and opportunity for everyone.

The frustration of Maltese youth is not only about jobs. It is about identity, dignity, and the future. It is the fear that despite all their efforts, they are losing their place in Maltese society.

A strong country is one where its young people feel needed, heard, and appreciated. Because if an entire generation begins to lose hope, the consequences will not only be felt today - but for years to come.

The time has come to listen more closely to the voices of young people and understand what many of them are truly feeling: not just anger, but a deep sense of disappointment and lack of belonging in a country that is supposed to be theirs too.

Ivan Bartolo is a Nationalist MP