Provisional estimates for 2008 indicate that Gozo’s contribution to national Gross Domestic Product at market prices is 5.9 per cent, or €335.0 million.

Gross Value Added (GVA) for Malta grew by 5.1 per cent in 2008, whilst that for Gozo went up by 3.7 per cent. Service activities (excluding other services activities) continued to contribute positively towards Gozo’s gross value added. Employment in Industry (including energy) declined in both islands. Gozo accounted for 9.3 per cent of the total increase in employment in 2008.

Sectoral Overview

The contribution of Gozo’s agriculture and fishing sector amounted to 4.9 per cent of the island’s total GVA, whilst in Malta this was valued at 1.6 per cent, confirming the island’s higher dependence on this primary sector compared to the mainland.

In industry (including energy), Malta registered a 1.0 percentage increase in gross value added, whilst Gozo registered a marginal decline of 0.4 per cent. In the construction industry, an increase in GVA was registered in Malta, whilst Gozo registered a decline. In non-financial services (comprising wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants, transport and communications), gross value added edged up in both Malta and Gozo. Both regions registered increases in gross value added in the financial, real estate, renting and business activities sector during 2008. In the other service activities, an increase of 9.4 per cent was registered in Malta’s gross value added, while Gozo retained the same level as in the previous year.

Employment, Unemployment and Population

An increase in total employment was registered in both regions in 2008, mainly driven by the services (including other service activities) sectors of both regions. Declines in employment were experienced in the Primary and Industry sectors, however, employment in Gozo’s agriculture and fishing sector registered slight increases. A decline in unemployment was registered for Malta in 2008, whilst Gozo experienced a slight increase.

Both regions experienced a continued growth in population.

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