International Women’s Day is commemorated worldwide every year on the 8th of March. On this day, women are recognised for their past and present struggles, as well as their achievements. The female population as at the end of 2010 stood at 210,031. Females aged less than 25 made up 28 per cent of the total, while 18 per cent were 65 years old and over.
Annual employment figures from the Labour Force Survey reveal a marked increase in the employment rate for women since 2003, despite remaining significantly lower than that for males. The employment rate among females aged between 15-24 stood at 42 per cent while for those aged 25-34 it stood at 65 per cent. On average, employed women reportedly worked 35 hours per week – 6 hours less than males.
The unemployment rate for women has been on the decrease, registering 7 per cent during 2010. The highest unemployment rate for females was recorded among youths, which was estimated at 12 per cent. On the other hand, only 3 per cent of the women aged 25-34 were not working and actively seeking work. The inactivity rate of women aged 15-64 has also decreased gradually, from 63 per cent in 2003 to 58 per cent in 2010. Just over half the female youths and more than 80 per cent of women aged 55-64 were inactive.
During 2010, more than two-thirds of the female population in the 15-64 age bracket had a secondary level of education. On the other hand, 17 per cent had a post-secondary level of education and a further 14 per cent had reached a tertiary level of eduation. Nearly 60 per cent of women aged 15-24 were in education or training. Forty-one per cent of women aged 15-64, who were pursuing further education or training, were in tertiary education.
The Culture Participation Survey showed that 70 per cent of the females had internet access during the 12 months preceding the survey. The majority (96 per cent) of women aged between 16 and 44 had internet access. Of the total female youth (aged 16-24), 87 per cent made use of the internet for private purposes, 76 per cent for leisure activities and 66 per cent for the purchase of cultural goods and services. These percentages decrease as the ages of female internet users increase. The Culture Participation Survey, held during 2011, also indicates that 62 per cent of females within the 16-24 age bracket read at least one book during the preceding 12 months. Figures from this survey also revealed that this statistic diminished as the age of females increased.
With regard to politics, as at the end of January, 20 per cent of elected councillors in the 68 local councils were women. Of these, seven were mayors while another 11 were deputy mayors. Slightly more than a quarter of these women were elected in the Northern Harbour district. At a national level, six of the 69 Members of Parliament, or 8.7 per cent, are women. At a European level, all six Maltese MEPs are male.
These figures come from the National Statistics Office.