Despite signs that overpopulation is taking its toll on the Maltese Islands, the influx of foreign workers has continued unabated with the total number of declared foreign workers reaching 115,721 by the end of last year. The number represents an increase of 11,282 when compared to six months earlier.

The matter was recently raised in Parliament by Opposition MP Chris Said who asked Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri for the number of foreign workers in Malta, including a breakdown of their respective nationalities. Though the latter information was not divulged, from the information tabled in Parliament it transpired that by the end of December 2023, there were 36,840 EU Nationals and 78,881 third country nationals. Looking at the bigger picture, it turns out that one in every three workers in the Maltese Islands is foreign. However, the number of foreign workers could be even higher as it is an open secret that there are third country nationals residing in Malta illegally. This matter comes to the fore each time there is a raid by the immigration police, which more often than not results in the deportation of dozens of people. In the last decade, non-EU workers soared by more than 12 times as in 2013 these totalled just 6,410.

According to the latest statistics, by December 2023 the vast majority of TCNs, were employed full-time (76,837) with just 2,044 TCNs having a part-time job. Amid this growing population, Maltese workers, number 200,772 of whom 172,941 work full-time. In total, Malta’s workforce at the end of December 2023 reached 316,493 individuals.

The increase in population is increasingly putting the country’s resources under strain. Traffic congestion became a daily challenge, with roads clogged as more vehicles took to the streets. Public transport struggled to keep up with the increased demand, leaving commuters frustrated.  The local housing market became increasingly inaccessible, and public health services were overwhelmed by the rising demand.

The rapid increase in foreign workers, while contributing to economic growth, also highlighted the urgent need for infrastructural improvements. Balancing the benefits of a diverse workforce with the realities of overpopulation and strained resources became a central challenge. Malta faced the task of ensuring that its economic success did not come at the expense of its residents’ quality of life, striving to create a sustainable and harmonious future for all.