Malta Industry Employment
Employment in industry SL.IND.EMPL.ZS
Malta's industry employment was 17.74% in 2025, ranked 71st globally. This represents a 1.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Malta's industry employment stood at 17.74% in 2025, a decline of +0.20% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 17.74% by 2026. Malta ranked 71st globally.
Malta’s share of the labour force employed in industry has fallen sharply over the past three and a half decades, dropping from an all‑time peak of 34.97 percent in 1991 to a trough of 17.16 percent in 2022 and reaching 17.74 percent in 2025, which places the country 71st in the world. The decline reflects a structural shift toward services, particularly tourism and financial activities, that has reduced the relative weight of manufacturing and construction. Compared with peers of similar rank, Malta’s 2025 industry employment rate is close to Tajikistan’s 17.66 percent and slightly above Somalia, Fed. Rep.’s 17.75 percent, indicating that the island nation now shares a low‑industrial‑employment profile with economies that have limited manufacturing bases. The persistent downward trajectory suggests that without targeted policies to foster high‑value industrial niches or green manufacturing, Malta’s industry employment share is likely to remain near the low‑teens, with only modest fluctuations around the current level.
Data & projection
| Year | Industry Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 17.69% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 17.72% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 17.74% | - | - |
| 2025 | 17.74% | −0.20% | #71 |
| 2024 | 17.93% | −0.09% | #74 |
| 2023 | 18.02% | +0.86% | #78 |
| 2022 | 17.16% | −1.10% | #68 |
| 2021 | 18.25% | −0.30% | #83 |
| 2020 | 18.55% | −0.81% | #86 |
| 2019 | 19.36% | +0.58% | #93 |
| 2018 | 18.78% | −1.04% | #84 |
| 2017 | 19.82% | −0.07% | #99 |
| 2016 | 19.89% | −0.14% | #99 |
| 2015 | 20.03% | −0.68% | #99 |
| 2014 | 20.71% | −0.88% | #106 |
| 2013 | 21.60% | −0.59% | #116 |
| 2012 | 22.19% | −2.38% | #121 |
| 2011 | 24.56% | −1.00% | #139 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malta matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw industry employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malta's industry employment was 17.74% in 2025. Ranked 71st globally. This represents a 1.1% decrease from the previous year.
Malta's industry employment peaked at 34.97% in 1991.
The lowest industry employment in Malta was 17.16% in 2022.
Malta ranks 71st globally in industry employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.IND.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malta's industry employment is projected to reach 17.74% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The industry employment of Malta in 2025 was 17.74%. This ranks 71st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malta_industry-employment,
title = {Malta Industry Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malta/industry-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}