A MaltaToday analysis of unemployment statistics presented in parliament last month reveals that, with the exception of St Paul’s Bay, unemployment is currently concentrated in the harbour area and in Gozo.
But with the total number of unemployed dropping by 989 in the past year, unemployment has evaporated from the electoral agenda. Rather than focusing on unemployment, the opposition is harping on precarious working conditions of those whose sole income is derived from part time work.
Xghajra – the locality with the greatest number of unemployed since 2003 – has ceded its top place in the jobless table to the Gozitan locality of Zebbug, although Gozo as a whole has registered a slight decline in the rate of unemployment from 744 to 706 in the past year.
Munxar, which has experience a 0.4% rise increase in unemployed inhabitants, comes third after Xghajra.
Over the past year unemployment in the harbour area has seen a slight decrease. In Valletta the number of unemployed fell by 0.8% while in Bormla unemployment fell by 0.7%.
Unemployment is lowest in middle class localities like Attard, Swieqi and Lija. Rural towns like Mellieha and Mgarr also have low levels of unemployment.
Just over half – 52% – of all unemployed persons have been without a job for less than six months. But a significant 21% (648 persons) have been without a job for more than four years.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt

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More on unemployment
www.maltatoday.com.mt/2008/01/13/n5.html

Unemployment in Gozo
www.maltatoday.com.mt/2007/03/11/l12.html