The number of people dependent on social assistance and unemployment benefits continued to decrease. In fact, during 2022, this amount dropped to the lowest levels ever recorded.
Figures released by the Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights show that the amount of people dependent on social benefits decreased by 5,157 from 10,784 over a period of ten years, equivalent to 48%. This while those dependent on unemployment aid dropped by 4,103 people from 4,330, equivalent to 95%.
Thus, there are currently 227 people receiving the unemployment benefit, the lowest amount in history. This meant that over a period of ten years the global number of these beneficiaries decreased by 9,260, which represents a decrease of 61%.
Minister Michael Falzon interpreted this progress as encouraging and explained that it was made against a background of unprecedented growth in the economy which spawned the creation of employment opportunities, so much so that Malta today has one of the lowest rates of unemployment in Europe.
He said that this progress was also spurred by measures launched in 2014 and 2015 so that social beneficiaries are cut off from dependence on benefits, enter the world of work and improve their quality of life and that of those which depend on them.
The measures include the In-Work Benefit scheme, that of benefit tapering and the free childcare service. The Minister said that the government will remain committed to supporting those who are still dependent on social benefits, so that they too enter the world of work.
