3.3 Skills forecasting
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Forecasting system(s)
The National Skills Council (NSC) was re-stablished in March 2023 as an executive body under the aegis of the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation. It is instrumental in ensuring that Malta is better prepared to face new labour market realities with capabilities to contribute to economic and social development. Its primary goals are to advise government on priority skills needs, the direction of skills development in line with emerging global trends, and the opportunities and challenges for learning and work. It shall steer Malta’s national skills strategy, establish policy, and oversee research while developing intelligence, promoting the required mechanisms for the advancement of skills, and minimising the skills gap. It has therefore a coordinating role, and together with other stakeholders will be building a skill forecasting function in the coming years.
Moreover, important efforts towards skills forecasting have already been elaborated within the National Employment Policy 2021-2030.
The NSC is also mandated to create the right channels for different stakeholders to connect and collaborate to effectively respond to present and future skill demands. As a priority, the NSC has been setting up the necessary structures to facilitate cross sectoral dialogues between the education and employment sector, both public and private also involving social partners. These dialogues are structured using a mutual learning bazaar approach whereby experts and representatives with different responsibilities are brought together in dedicated working groups. Outcomes of discussion from within these working groups will be used as input to labour market intelligence tools, and skills anticipation.
Skills development
The Malta Skills Survey (MSS), launched by the National Statistics Office in October 2022, aimed to collect comprehensive data on the skills of the Maltese labour force. It gathered information on skills, language proficiency, educational attainment, work experience, and licenses held, alongside socio-demographic data to allow comparisons across population groups. The MSS provides reliable statistics to identify skills gaps and mismatches, offering insights into the labour market’s readiness to attract new investment and highlighting areas for future training and workforce development. The Malta Skills Survey (MSS) highlighted key insights into the skills and competencies of the Maltese labour force. The most common skill category was working with computers (78.6%), followed by assisting and caring (78.0%) and communication, collaboration, and creativity (75.8%). Gender differences were evident, with females more likely to possess assistance and caring skills, while males dominated constructing and machinery operation skills.
Younger individuals showed greater proficiency in technological and communication skills, reflecting an age-related trend toward digital abilities. Higher education levels correlated with stronger skills in communication, computer use, and management.
Meanwhile different further and higher education institutions involve industry in diverse manners to ensure that their education offer reflects the needs of industry, such as in curriculum design and quality assurance.
MCAST's proactive measures, including its strategic plan and collaboration with industry partners, demonstrate a forward-thinking approach to vocational education and training (VET). It ensures that its programmes remain responsive to the national skills landscape and contribute effectively to Malta's economic competitiveness and sustainability.