Women continue to represent just over half of the total population in Malta. This percentage is expected to fall to around 47 per cent in 2050.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on Sunday, the 8th of March, data released by the National Statistics Office, sheds light on the participation of women in today’s Maltese economy with particular focus on paid and unpaid work.

This day has been observed from the early 1900’s and commemorates the political, economical and social achievement of women in today’s world. Crude death rates remain highest amongst men across most age-groups. These differences become more significant amongst the highest age-groups.

Figures from the Labour Force Survey reveal that just over 40 per cent of women aged 15 or over have achieved a secondary level of education as their highest level. Another 34 per cent have achieved a primary level of education. Women with a post-secondary and tertiary level of education accounted for 12 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. This illustrates a positive trend when compared to 10 per cent and 6 per cent of all women aged 15 and over that were recorded in 2001.

29 per cent of women compared to 63 per cent of men were employed during 2007. Unemployment amongst women counted 4,141 with an unemployment rate of 7.6 per cent compared to 5.9 per cent as calculated for men. Despite having a higher unemployment rate with respect to men, women still managed to sustain the increasing trend of participation in employment as in the past years. In fact, the value recorded for 2007 stood at 36 per cent, which is the highest proportion that has been calculated over the past seven years.

From the 2007 Labour Force Survey it resulted that the highest proportion of women were more likely to be employed as clerks (22 per cent) together with service and sales workers (21 per cent). 17 per cent of working women, compared to 9 per cent of working men, were working in a professional capacity. However the percentage of men acting as directors, managers and other senior officials exceeded that of females by 5 percentage points.

In 2007, there were a total of 773 full-time and 569 part-time female employees working within non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Another 3,519 females were working on a voluntary basis. These NGOs rendered a service to 76,101 beneficiaries and 3,418 residents, from which 75 per cent and 58 per cent respectively were females. NGO membership numbered 86,125. 55 per cent of these were females.

Permalink: International Women’s Day – Statistics for Malta