Malta’s unemployment rate rose to 3.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from a revised 3.1% in the same period a year earlier. The number of unemployed persons increased by 1,387 to 11,544, while the inactive population expanded by 2,699 to 165,967.
Women made up 58.3% of all inactive persons, with those aged over 65 constituting the largest share. The leading reason for inactivity was retirement or early retirement, accounting for 43.7% of the inactive population.
Despite the rise in unemployment, the employment rate inched up to 79.8% from 79.7%, as the number of employed persons grew by 9,465 to 330,614. The activity rate for the quarter also increased, reaching 82.7% compared with 82.2% a year earlier. Labour market participation was highest among those aged 25 to 54, at 91.9%.
