SME Chamber survey: 21% find technical skills are most lacking within their workforce

On Wednesday (today), the Malta Chamber of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), published its SME Q3 Barometer which indicates that 21 per cent of the businesses surveyed feel that technical skills are the most lacking within their workforce.

Figures from the latest barometer were released during a press conference held today.

In addition to technical skills, 16 per cent of the businesses surveyed feel that adaptability and flexibility are the most lacking within their respective workforce.

The SME Chamber commented that this skill is especially useful and relevant for micro-enterprise and small businesses, “not for employees to be a jack-of-all-trades but to adapt to the evolving challenges and changes in the business sphere.”

What are the other skills that are lacking in their workforce?

• Critical thinking – 13.5 per cent

• Problem solving – 11 per cent

• Leadership – 8 per cent

• Communication and self-organisation at 9 per cent equally

• Digital literacy and customer care at 5.5 per cent equally

The SME Chamber positively notes the ‘small percentage’ of businesses choosing digital literacy and calls it a “step in the right direction” towards being more competent in a digitalised workplace.

Nonetheless, the SME Chamber recommeded that the Government addresses workforce skill gaps particularly for micro-enterprises that often lack resources for employee training.

“To address this challenge, we propose making training grants more attractive and accessible to self-employed and micro-business, by reducing bureaucracy,” the SME Chamber added.

About the survey

The number of respondents for the survey were that of 432 from businesses operating in Malta. Answers were given as part of an online survey with unique submissions, gathered between 9th and 18th October 2024.

The majority of businesses contacted during the survey form part of the retail, import, distribution, wholesale (goods and services) sector (36 per cent), followed by the tourism, accommodation, catering and entertainment services sector (23.5 per cent). 14.5 per cent form part of the transport, services and logistics (land, sea and air) sector, 14 per cent from the legal, professional and other services, 12 per cent from real estate, construction, finishing and property rental, 10 per cent from the industrial sector, nine per cent from education, training and schools, six per cent from health, wellness and personal care services and 1.6 per cent from the arts and crafts industry.

In terms of size of business by head count, the majority of respondents have between one and nine employees (50.5 per cent) , followed by 31 per cent who have between 10 and 49 employees. From the respondents 16 pe recent employ more than 50 employees and 2.5 per cent employ over 249.

The survey has a margin of error of 4.9 per cent.