Women’s employment in Malta has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once the country with the EU’s lowest female employment rate, Malta has seen that figure rise significantly over the past fifteen years. Today, more than three-quarters of women aged 20 to 64 are working, although notable employment gaps remain between different age groups.

Malta has experienced one of the most striking changes in women’s employment across the European Union. In 2010, just 41.6% of women aged between 20 and 64 were employed, placing Malta at the bottom of the EU rankings. By 2025, that figure had climbed to 76.7%, comfortably above the EU average of 71.3%.

The increase of 35.1% over fifteen years reflects a major transformation in Malta’s labour market. More women are participating in paid employment, while policies such as free childcare have helped make it easier for parents to combine work and family responsibilities.

However, despite the progress, a noticeable employment gap remains between men and women, particularly among older workers.

Malta Went From The Bottom Of The EU Rankings To Above Average

In 2010, fewer than half of Maltese women aged 20 to 64 were in employment. The country’s female employment rate stood at just 41.6%, making it the lowest in the European Union.

By 2025, the situation had changed considerably. Malta’s female employment rate reached 76.7%, exceeding the EU average of 71.3% by 5.4%.

Malta also recorded the highest overall employment rate in the EU in 2025, with 83.6% of people aged 20 to 64 in work. The Netherlands followed at 83.4%, while Czechia recorded 82.9%.

The figures suggest that Malta’s employment growth has not been limited to one section of the workforce. However, the increase in women’s employment has been particularly significant given the country’s starting position.

Women’s Employment Across Europe Is Still Uneven

Across the EU, the employment rate for people aged 20 to 64 reached 76.1% in 2025. The rate for men stood at 80.9%, compared with 71.3% for women, leaving a gender employment gap of 9.6%.

The differences between individual countries remain considerable. Italy recorded the EU’s lowest female employment rate at 58.0%, followed by Romania at 59.5% and Greece at 62.3%.

These countries also recorded some of the widest employment gaps between men and women. In Italy, the difference was 19.1%, compared with 18.7 in Romania and 17.4 in Greece.

At the other end of the scale, Estonia recorded a female employment rate of 81.4%, followed by Lithuania at 80.3% and Sweden at 79.8%.

The European Union has set a target of having at least 78% of people aged 20 to 64 in employment by 2030. Its wider employment strategy also aims to reduce the gender employment gap by at least half compared with 2019.

Malta’s Employment Rate Continued To Improve In 2026

The latest quarterly Eurostat figures indicate that employment across the EU continued to increase in 2026.

During the second quarter of the year, 76.4% of people aged 20 to 64 across the EU were employed. The employment rate stood at 81.0% for men and 71.7% for women.

Malta’s women employment rate reached approximately 77.6% during the same quarter, according to the quarterly figures cited in the latest labour-market data.

While quarterly figures are seasonally adjusted and should not be directly compared with annual averages, they suggest that Malta’s progress in women’s employment has continued beyond 2025.

How Free Childcare Helped More Women Enter Employment

One of the most significant policy changes affecting women’s employment in Malta was the introduction of the Free Childcare Scheme in April 2014.

The scheme provides eligible parents and guardians with access to free childcare while they work or pursue recognised education or training. It was introduced partly to help parents, particularly mothers, enter or remain in employment during their children’s early years.

Before the scheme was introduced, childcare costs and availability could present additional challenges for families balancing employment and parenting responsibilities.

According to Jobsplus, more than 22,500 mothers had benefited from the scheme by its tenth anniversary in 2024. The organisation has also identified free childcare as an important contributor to the increase in women’s employment.

However, childcare was not the only factor behind Malta’s changing labour market. Economic growth, employment opportunities and wider changes in working patterns may also have influenced the increase.

The Biggest Remaining Employment Gap Is Among Older Women

Although Malta’s overall women employment rate has risen sharply, the picture is different when looking at older age groups.

In 2025, approximately 49.2% of women aged between 55 and 64 were employed in Malta, compared with 72.8% of men in the same age group. The EU employment rate for women aged 55 to 64 was approximately 60.8%.

This suggests that older women remain less represented in Malta’s workforce than their counterparts across the EU.

Many women currently in this age group began their careers or raised families before free childcare became available in Malta. However, the available employment statistics do not establish the individual reasons why someone is outside the workforce.

The difference is smaller among younger and middle-aged workers. In 2025, around 83.8% of Maltese women aged 25 to 54 were employed, compared with approximately 93.9% of men.

These figures highlight the importance of looking beyond national averages when discussing women’s employment.

What This Means For Jobseekers And Employers In Malta

Malta’s progress presents opportunities for both employers and people considering entering or returning to the workforce.

For employers, women returning to work after a career break may represent an important source of experience and skills. Offering flexible working arrangements, refresher training and opportunities to develop new skills can help make workplaces more accessible to people with different responsibilities.

This can be particularly relevant for older workers who may have spent time outside formal employment or who are looking to change careers later in life.

For jobseekers, Jobsplus provides employment support, training opportunities and job-matching services. These can help people update their skills, explore different industries and identify opportunities suited to their experience.

Eligible parents can also explore Malta’s Free Childcare Scheme, which supports families where parents are working or pursuing recognised education.

Malta Has Made Major Progress, But The Gender Employment Gap Has Not Disappeared

Malta’s journey from the EU’s lowest female employment rate in 2010 to above the European average in 2025 demonstrates how significantly a country’s labour market can change.

The increase from 41.6% to 76.7% represents a substantial shift in women’s participation in employment, supported by policies such as free childcare and broader changes in the economy.

However, the remaining differences between men and women, particularly among older workers, show that there is still room for improvement.

For Malta’s employers and jobseekers, the next challenge is not simply encouraging more people into employment. It is also ensuring that workers of different ages and backgrounds can access suitable opportunities, develop their skills and remain active in the labour market throughout their careers.