Job Vacancy Survey: Q2/2024
This news release presents the findings of the Job Vacancy Survey (JVS), a quarterly enterprise-based enquiry that provides insights into the demand for labour by gauging the number of vacancies and occupied posts.
Job Vacancies
In the second quarter of 2024, there were a total of 8,092 vacancies within enterprises employing one or more persons, registering an increase of 13.7 per cent over the same period in 2023 (Chart 1, Table 1).
Chart 1. Number of job vacancies and occupied posts
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The professional, scientific, technical, administration and support service activities sector generated 25.4 per cent of all vacancies during the second quarter of 2024. On the other hand, the real estate activities sector recorded the lowest number of job vacancies, standing at 0.7 per cent of the total number of calls for application in Q2 2024 (Chart 2).
The highest year-on-year increase in the number of vacancies, with an addition of 740 vacancies was recorded in the Professional, scientific, technical, administration and support service activities. This was followed by information and communication activities, which saw an increase of 430 vacancies. On the contrary, the arts, entertainment and recreation; other service activities sector experienced the largest drop when compared to the second quarter of 2023, with a reduction of 344 vacancies (Table 1).
Chart 2. Job vacancies by economic activity of enterprise
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Data also shows a correlation between enterprise size and number of job vacancies. In this regard, small enterprises (1 to 49 employees) contributed to 45.0 per cent, whereas, companies with 250 employees or more generated 28.2 per cent of all vacancies of the second quarter of 2024 (Chart 3, Table 2).
Chart 3. Job vacancies by size class of enterprise
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In the private sector, job vacancies increased by 974 between the second quarter of 2023 and the second quarter of 2024, totalling to 7,711, whereas the public sector total number of vacancies for the same period stands at 381 (Table 3). As Chart 4 illustrates, the private sector continues to dominate the job vacancy market, representing 95.3 per cent of all vacancies, leaving the public sector with a 4.7 per cent share (Chart 4).
Chart 4. Job vacancies by economic sector
Q2 2023
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Q2 2024
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Occupied Posts
During the second quarter of 2024, the total number of occupied posts within enterprises employing 1 or more employees stood at 265,971 (Chart 1). Just over one fourth of these posts were recorded in the wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service activities. In this regard, over a period of one year, this category of economic activities registered a growth of 4.6 per cent. A further 66,281 occupied posts were estimated to be in the public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities sector, making up 24.9 per cent of the total number of occupied posts (Table 4).
38.5 per cent of occupied posts were estimated to be in enterprises employing 250 employees or more during the second quarter of 2024. Units with 50 to 249 employees made up just above one fourth of all occupied posts (Table 5).
Occupied posts within the private sector stood at 210,476, garnering 79.1 per cent of the total amount of jobs. The public sector totalled 55,495, making up the remaining 20.9 per cent (Table 6).
Job Vacancy Rate
In the second quarter of 2024, 3.0 per cent of jobs in Malta were vacant, decreasing by 0.2 percentage points when compared to the preceding quarter and increasing by 0.3 percentage points from the second quarter of 2023 (Chart 5, Table 7). The job vacancy rate was highest within the information and communication sector (6.0 per cent) whilst the public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities registered the lowest rate of job vacancies (1.0 per cent) (Table 7).
Small enterprises, with 1 to 49 employees, showed a higher job vacancy rate of 3.7 per cent, suggesting a greater demand for labour in this segment. Large enterprises, comprising 250 or more employees, exhibited a lower rate of job vacancies at 2.2 per cent (Table 8).
The private sector registered a job vacancy rate of 3.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2024 whereas 0.7 per cent of total jobs in the public sector were vacant during the same period (Table 9).
Chart 5. Job vacancy rate
in relation to unemployment rate
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Tables
Tables
Methodological Notes
1. The Job Vacancy Survey (JVS) is a quarterly enterprise survey carried out with over 2,500 private sector entities employing one or more employees. Administrative sources are used to compile information relating to the public sector.
2. The objective of this survey, as laid down in the regulation (EC) No. 453/2008, is to provide information on the demand for labour at a reference date across units employing one or more employees and engaged in NACE sections B-S. The economic activity is classified according to NACE Rev. 2 (Nomenclature générale des Activités économiques dans les Communautés Européennes).
3. Definitions:
● A job vacancy is defined as a paid post that is newly created, unoccupied, or about to become vacant, for which the employer is taking active steps and is prepared to take further steps to find a suitable candidate from outside the enterprise concerned, and the employer intends to fill either immediately or within a specific period of time.
● Active steps to find a suitable candidate include:
notifying the job vacancy to the public employment services;
contacting a private employment agency;
advertising the vacancy in the media, for example, internet, newspapers and magazines;
advertising the vacancy on a public notice board;
approaching, interviewing or selecting possible candidates/potential recruits directly;
approaching employees and/or personal contacts;
using internships.
● The term ‘within a specific period of time‘ refers to the maximum time the vacancy is open and intended to be filled. When the period is unlimited, all vacancies for which active steps are ongoing after the reference date shall be reported.
● An occupied post means a paid post within the organisation to which an employee has been assigned. This value excludes all board members, self-employed owners, directors, partners and managers who are solely paid by way of profits, persons on unpaid leave, posts unoccupied due to long-term absences (e.g., parental leave or long-term sickness) together with employees of temporary employment agencies, outside contractors or consultants, and voluntary workers.
● The Job Vacancy Rate (JVR) is calculated using this formula:
● The Job Vacancy Survey takes a snapshot of the number of job vacancies and occupied posts on a specific day, known as the reference date. For 2017, the reference date was the 30th day of the end of quarter month (i.e., March, June, September and December). As from 2018, the reference date was the 15th day of the end of quarter month (i.e., March, June, September and December). Starting from the first quarter of 2024, the reference date has been changed to the 28th day of the middle quarter month (i.e., February, May, August and November).
● The unemployment rate refers to the number of unemployed persons (15-74 years) as a percentage of the total labour force (15-74 years). Unemployment rates were obtained from the Labour Force Survey (LFS).
4. Data in this news release is provisional and therefore subject to revisions. These revisions generally occur annually to align the estimates with the latest population figures. Additionally, quarterly revisions may be necessary to ensure the consistency of the data series. Also, totals may not add up due to rounding.
5. Figures that have a relative margin of error of 30 percent or more should be interpreted with caution. Such data may not be statistically representative due to the high potential for error.
6. More information relating to this news release may be accessed at:
Sources and Methods
Statistical Concepts
Metadata
NACE Rev. 2 Classification
7. References to this news release are to be cited appropriately. For guidance on access and re-use of data please visit our dedicated webpage.
8. A detailed news release calendar is available online.
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Job Vacancy Survey: Q2/2024
- In the second quarter of 2024, there were a total of 8,092 vacancies.
- The sector comprising wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service activities held the largest share of job vacancies at 30.6 percent.
- Small enterprises having 1 to 49 employees accounted for 45.0 per cent of all vacancies, while the share of vacancies generated by companies with 250 employees or more amounted to 28.2 per cent.
- The private sector dominated the job vacancy market, representing 95.3 per cent of all vacant positions, with the public sector accounting for 4.7 per cent.
Job Vacancy Survey: Q2/2024
