Beyond the headlines: Economic realities of migration and the labour market in Malta

Abstract

In January 2016, the International Monetary Fund released a report confirming that increased labour mobility to Malta had a positive impact on the country’s economy. A mass inflow of non-Maltese workers has boosted Malta’s potential growth and offset the declining working Maltese age population. The presence of foreign nationals has dramatically increased in one the world’s most densely populated countries. Political discourse, social tensions and the government’s slow response addressing the needs of increasingly diverse constituency have proven that Malta is still an island in transition. By establishing the rapid change in demographics and economic expansion, this paper explores the media’s role in informing the public on economic realities and implications that an increase in migrants and immigrants has had on the economy.