In the second quarter of 2026, Malta’s unemployment rate increased to 3.3%, up from 2.8% in the same period a year earlier. The number of unemployed persons rose by 2,158 on an annual basis, reaching 11,431, while the inactive population grew by 378 to 164,136. The leading cause of inactivity was retirement, including both statutory and early retirement.
At the same time, the employment rate inched up to 65.9% from 65.5% in the second quarter of 2025, as the number of employed persons expanded by 11,198 to 339,935. The activity rate also increased, reaching 82.8% compared with 82.0% a year earlier, with the highest labour market participation observed among individuals aged 25 to 54, at 92.1%.