New figures from Eurostat reveal that 8.7% of Maltese adults aged 18 and over who were at work last year are considered at risk of poverty.

The data includes both employed and self-employed individuals, highlighting that being in a job doesn’t always guarantee financial security.

The gender breakdown shows a notable difference: 8.7% of working men were at risk, compared to 6.5% of working women. While Malta sits slightly above the EU average of 8.2%, the figures align closely with the wider European picture, where 9% of men and 7.3% of women in employment face poverty risks.

Across the EU, Luxembourg topped the chart with 13.4% of working adults at risk, followed by Bulgaria at 11.8% and Spain at 11.2%. On the other end of the spectrum, Finland recorded the lowest rate at just 2.8%, with Czechia (3.6%) and Belgium (4.3%) not far behind.

The data underscores the ongoing challenge of ensuring that employment truly protects people from financial hardship, even in relatively wealthy EU nations.

What do you make of these statistics?
Photo credits to @eurostat