Idleness is not an option

Understanding the reasons behind of long-term unemployment is the first step to solving the problem. There are various factors that lead to someone not finding employment for considerable periods of time.

Lack of skills is usually high up the list of problems of the long-term unemployed. Being unemployed can sometimes become a way of life – almost a routine – for some, and breaking such patterns is a very important part of their return to employment.

Once a skill-set is acquired, through training or further education, the next step is making sure that the government is not incentivising idleness but doing the opposite – incentivising them to find a job as opposed to remaining as they are.

Through tapering measures and less taxation, as well as initiatives such as free childcare, the government is making sure the avenue towards employment is more attractive than that of unemployment.

Understanding that through employment they can contribute to the well-being of their families, as well as to society at large, is another important change that needs to happen. Their long-term future, as well as their children’s, is in leaps and bounds more prosperous and rewarding if they manage to acquire the necessary skill-set in order to find a good job.

Through the Youth Guarantee and Making Work Pay initiatives launched over the past days, the government is being proactive in making inroads for unemployed individuals to break out of an unemployed life.

The Youth Guarantee is about making sure youths are either in employment, education or training while providing the necessary support for them to start these programmes and, more importantly, to finish them successfully. According to 2012 Eurostat figures, Malta had a NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) rate of 11.1% across the 15-24 age cohort, resulting in two percentage points lower than the EU28 average.

On the other hand in Q3 of 2013, youth unemployment for the same age cohort was at 14%, 9 percentage points lower than the EU28 average. The same Eurostat figures indicate that Malta has the 10th lowest NEET rate and the 5th lowest unemployment rate when compared to other EU nations.

The Making Work Pay initiative is a proactive measure aimed at jolting the process in which people return to employment. Its aims are simple – offering an alternative to the status quo and move them from social assistance to employment. The scheme targets over 9,500 individuals, especially the 2,100 registering for employment.

These initiatives are all aimed at making sure people are ready for employment. Myself and other colleagues in government are working tirelessly to make sure the right investment happens so that these people, with the necessary skill-set, are then given opportunities.

The European Union has repeatedly given the green light to Malta’s economic plans and investment in the country has been very positive over the past twelve months. Removing people from the unemployment register who are no longer looking for employment is the first step to making sure we have a real picture of the situation. However EU figures have continuously shown that Malta is doing well in this area and is leading the pack in employment figures, including youth employment.

There is still a lot to do – among the main challenges the country faces in this sector is the mismatch between skill-sets and job vacancies. But through removing barriers and enriching people’s abilities we can rise to the challenge and guarantee our country a prosperous future.

Evarist Bartolo is Minister for Education