Jobsplus Malta is the country’s public employment service: a free government agency that lists job vacancies, registers jobseekers and every employment contract, offers training and job schemes, and hosts EURES, the EU’s job mobility network. For expats it matters in three ways: as a job board, as the place your employer registers your job (which builds your official employment history) and as your first stop if you lose your job and need support or unemployment benefit.
This pillar guide explains how Jobsplus works from a newcomer’s point of view: what to do on the website, which forms involve you, what help is available and where Jobsplus fits alongside recruiters and LinkedIn. For the full job-hunting process, from CV to interviews, see our step-by-step plan for your job search in Malta.
What Jobsplus Malta is and what it does
Jobsplus is Malta’s public employment service. Until 2016 it was called the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC); the name changed by Act of Parliament, and many older Maltese colleagues still say “ETC”. Its official website is jobsplus.gov.mt, and it runs jobcentres in Malta and Gozo.
| Service | What it means for an expat |
|---|---|
| Vacancy portal | Search and apply for jobs posted by employers in Malta |
| Jobseeker registration | Create a profile and CV; register as unemployed if you lose your job |
| Employment registration | Your employer registers your start (engagement) and end (termination) with Jobsplus |
| Employment advisors | One-to-one guidance and a personal action plan for registered jobseekers |
| Training and schemes | Courses, traineeships and work exposure schemes, many free or subsidised |
| EURES Malta | Help for EU job mobility, for jobseekers and employers |
| Labour market role for non-EU hires | Involvement in the labour market side of work permits |
Overview based on Jobsplus and EURES information; services and procedures change, so check jobsplus.gov.mt for the current process. Last checked November 2026.
Who can use Jobsplus Malta
Anyone can browse vacancies on the website. What you can do beyond that depends on your nationality and residence status.
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have the right to work in Malta without a work permit. You can register as a jobseeker, use the advisors and training, and, once you have built up contributions, claim unemployment benefit if you lose your job. The EU’s EURES guide to living and working in Malta is a good companion read.
- Non-EU nationals generally need a valid permit to work, usually a Single Permit linked to a specific employer. You can browse and apply for jobs, but the employer will have to support your permit application. See the section on non-EU workers below.
- Students can use the portal for part-time and summer roles, subject to the work rules attached to their status.
Our pillar guide to working in Malta covers contracts, tax and rights in more depth.
Creating an account and searching vacancies
The Jobsplus website is the starting point for almost everything. The basic flow for a jobseeker looks like this:
- Create an account on jobsplus.gov.mt. You will need a valid email address and your identification details.
- Build your profile: work preferences, skills, languages and the sectors you want.
- Upload your CV. Use a Malta-style CV: concise, in English, with your right-to-work status stated clearly at the top. Our guide on how to write a CV for Malta jobs shows the format employers expect.
- Search and filter vacancies by sector, job type and location, and set up alerts for new posts.
- Apply through the portal or by following the employer’s instructions in the ad.
What kinds of jobs you will find
Jobsplus is strongest for roles in hospitality, retail, construction and trades, logistics, care, cleaning, administration and the public sector, plus traineeships and schemes. Teachers should also read our guide to teaching jobs in Malta, since school and ELT posts follow their own rules. Large private employers in iGaming, financial services and tech often post on their own career pages, on LinkedIn and through recruiters as well, so the portal is not the whole market.
Tips for better results
- Check new vacancies several times a week; good roles in popular sectors fill quickly.
- Tailor each application to the ad rather than sending the same message everywhere.
- Keep your profile updated: availability, phone number and location matter for matching.
- Beware of anyone asking you to pay for a job. Legitimate employers and Jobsplus do not charge jobseekers for job offers.
Engagement forms and your employment history
This is the part of Jobsplus that affects every employee in Malta, whether or not you found your job there. All employment in Malta must be registered with Jobsplus.
- Engagement form: when you start a job, your employer submits an engagement form to Jobsplus. Once it is processed, both you and the employer receive an acknowledgement. Keep yours: it is proof that your job is officially registered.
- Termination: when a job ends, for whatever reason, the employer notifies Jobsplus of the termination.
- Employment history: these records build your official employment history in Malta. You may be asked for proof of employment by banks, landlords, Identità for residence matters, or future employers, and you can request your employment record from Jobsplus.
If you have started work and never received an acknowledgement after a few weeks, ask your employer whether the engagement form was submitted. Unregistered work leaves you without proof of employment and can cause problems with social security contributions, residence renewals and benefits later.
Registering as unemployed
If you lose your job in Malta, registering with Jobsplus is one of the first things to do. Our guide to what happens if you lose your job in Malta covers notice periods, final pay and residence implications; here is the Jobsplus side.
- Register as unemployed online or at a jobcentre. Registration on the unemployment register also submits an application for unemployment benefit, which Jobsplus passes to the Department of Social Security.
- Meet your employment advisor. You will be assigned an advisor who arranges a meeting to agree a personal action plan: the jobs you will target, any training you need and how often you will check in.
- Stay active. Registered jobseekers are expected to look for work, attend appointments and take part in agreed training or schemes. Missing appointments can affect your registration and any benefit.
- Benefit eligibility is separate. Registering does not guarantee payment. The Department of Social Security decides based mainly on your contribution record. Newcomers who have worked only a short time may not qualify.
Non-EU residents whose permit is tied to an employer face extra time pressure after a job ends, because the permit depends on employment. Check the rules that apply to your permit immediately and speak to Identità or a qualified advisor.
Training, schemes and career guidance
Jobsplus Malta is also a training provider, and this is the part expats most often overlook. Depending on the period and your eligibility, you can find:
- Short courses in practical and digital skills, languages, customer service, health and safety, and sector-specific topics.
- Traineeships that combine classroom learning with on-the-job training at companies in Malta and Gozo.
- Work exposure schemes that let jobseekers gain experience in a workplace for a set period.
- Career guidance: career tests, mock interviews and CV feedback with advisors.
- Youth Guarantee: support aimed at young people who are not in employment, education or training, including job search help and training.
Many courses are free or subsidised for registered jobseekers, and some are open to employed people who want to upskill. Course calendars, eligibility and any fees change, so check the training section of the Jobsplus website or ask your advisor.
Non-EU workers and Jobsplus
If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, the main document is the Single Permit, a combined residence and work permit. Applications are handled by Identità (formerly Identity Malta), and the employer plays a central role. Jobsplus is involved in the labour market side of the process, including labour market considerations for certain roles.
What this means in practice:
- You normally cannot start working until your permit allows it, even if you have a job offer.
- The permit is usually tied to the employer and role, so changing jobs requires a new approval.
- Requirements, including any mandatory courses or documents for applicants, are updated regularly. Always check the latest rules with Identità and your employer before you travel or resign from a job.
Our upcoming guide to the Single Permit in Malta for non-EU workers explains the application step by step.
Using Jobsplus Malta in a smart job search
Jobsplus Malta works best as one channel among several. A balanced weekly routine for a jobseeker in Malta looks like this:
| Channel | Best for | Time per week |
|---|---|---|
| Jobsplus portal and alerts | Hospitality, retail, trades, public sector, traineeships | 1 to 2 hours |
| LinkedIn and company career pages | iGaming, finance, tech, marketing, professional roles | 2 to 3 hours |
| Recruitment agencies | Mid-level and specialist roles | 1 hour |
| Networking and referrals | Roles that are never advertised | 2 to 4 hours |
Recruiters are an important part of Malta’s market; our guide to recruitment agencies in Malta lists how they work. Networking matters even more on a small island, where many roles are filled through someone who knows someone. Coffee with a former colleague, a sports club, a meetup or a small dinner can lead to an introduction that no portal will give you.
A four-week plan for newcomers
- Week 1: create your Jobsplus account, upload a Malta-format CV and set alerts. Update your LinkedIn location to Malta.
- Week 2: apply to five to ten well-matched roles, and contact two or three recruiters in your sector.
- Week 3: look at Jobsplus training or traineeships that fill a gap in your CV, and attend at least two networking events or social activities.
- Week 4: follow up on applications, ask for feedback after interviews and adjust your target roles.
Job hunting in a new country can be lonely. Keep some social plans in your week; the people you meet often know about openings before they are posted.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? Open MeetNow and see the plans posted in Malta. It is free and works in your browser: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins, starting in Malta.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is Jobsplus in Malta?
Jobsplus is Malta’s public employment service. It was known as the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) until it was renamed in 2016. It runs a vacancy portal, registers jobseekers and employment, offers training and employment schemes, and hosts EURES Malta.
Can foreigners use Jobsplus?
Yes. Anyone can browse vacancies and create an account. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can register as jobseekers and work without a permit. Non-EU nationals generally need a valid permit to work, usually a Single Permit processed by Identità, so check your status before applying for jobs.
What is a Jobsplus engagement form?
All employment in Malta must be registered with Jobsplus. When you start a job, your employer submits an engagement form, and once it is processed both of you receive an acknowledgement. When the job ends, the employer submits a termination. These records form your employment history.
Do I get unemployment benefit if I register with Jobsplus?
Registering as unemployed with Jobsplus is the first step, and it starts an application for unemployment benefit. Whether you receive benefit is decided separately by the Department of Social Security and depends mainly on your social security contributions.
Are Jobsplus courses free?
Many Jobsplus training courses and schemes are free or subsidised, especially for registered jobseekers, though eligibility and fees depend on the course and your situation. Check the course page or ask your employment advisor before applying.
Is Jobsplus the best place to find a job in Malta?
It is one useful channel, especially for public-sector, hospitality, retail and trade roles and for official registration. Many professional roles in iGaming, finance and tech are advertised on company sites, LinkedIn and recruitment agencies, so use Jobsplus alongside them.
