A larger number of private companies in Malta were hiring in the private sector in the third quarter of last year, driving up the number of people who were in full-time employment.

The latest statistics from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) have shown that quarter three of last year showed an increase of two per cent when compared to the year prior.

It also showed that there were 170,466 people in the country in employment in the quarter. This amounts to nearly half of the adult population, says Gozo News.

The survey also showed, however, that 49 per cent of the adult population were "inactive" during the quarter.

Biggest proportions of the population were employed in the service and retail sectors, with manufacturing jobs not too far behind either.

Jobs in Europe have been hard to come by over the last few months, and recently it was reported that more than 22 per cent of the Spanish population cannot find work.

Posted by Lee Thrace