Study finds Gozitan youth happy but held back by jobs and housing

83.5% of young people in Gozo are satisfied with life, but call for better career opportunities, affordable housing and more youth-friendly spaces, a Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA) study has found.

Gozitan young people are largely satisfied with their lives, but have raised concerns over limited career prospects, unaffordable housing and a lack of spaces to socialise. The findings were discovered in a study conducted by the GRDA.

The study, which explores the experiences and aspirations of young people aged between 16 and 30, found that this age group accounts for 15.5% of Gozo’s population.

Despite relatively high levels of life satisfaction and emotional wellbeing, the findings point to a gap between young people’s attachment to Gozo and the opportunities available to them locally.

Employment emerged as one of the key concerns, especially among those with higher levels of education, who were more likely to express dissatisfaction with local job opportunities.

The study also found that available jobs do not always match young people’s qualifications or career ambitions, which is prompting graduates in fields such as business, education and health to look for employment in Malta or elsewhere.

While young people expressed an interest in entrepreneurship, the prospect of setting up a business was often hindered by financial risks, bureaucracy, limited funding and uncertainty about whether a business would be viable in Gozo’s market.

Housing remains a major obstacle

Access to housing was another concern, with affordability identified as the single most pressing issue, ahead of availability and quality.

The study suggests that the cost of securing a home remains a barrier for young people seeking to live alone and establish themselves in Gozo.

Furthermore, awareness of government housing support schemes was found to be relatively low. However, young people featured prominently among those applying for assistance.

According to the study, 493 of the 776 applicants from Gozo for the First-Time Buyer Scheme were aged 30 or under, accounting for 63.5% of applicants.

Most young people are happy, but services could improve

The study found that despite concerns about jobs and housing, Gozitan youth were satisfied with their lives.

Some 83.5% reported being satisfied with life, with 46.4% describing themselves as relatively satisfied and 37.1% as completely satisfied.

Meanwhile, 72.2% said they felt happy, while 82.8% reported never feeling lonely. The latter figure rose to 94.4% among young women.

However, despite this, respondents identified barriers to accessing mental health services and indicated that support could be better tailored to their needs.

The study also found that, although young people felt a strong connection to Gozo’s culture and community, their active participation in voluntary and social activities remained low.

A lack of youth-friendly spaces and concerns about inadequate representation in local decision-making were among the issues identified.

Relationships and social connections emerged as the most important personal values for young people, followed by personal stability and freedom.

Encouraging youth to stay in Gozo

The findings suggest that retaining young people in Gozo involves more than encouraging them to stay. It also requires creating the conditions for them to find suitable employment, secure housing and participate meaningfully in community life.

While the high levels of reported life satisfaction point to a strong sense of wellbeing among Gozitan youth, the study highlights the importance of addressing the practical challenges that can influence whether young people are able to build their futures on the island.