November marked the deadline for submitting applications to three InvestGozo schemes, all focused exclusively on the world of work. Supporting Sustainable Quality Employment in Gozo, Empowering Gozo’s Knowledge Economy, and the Gozo Telework Scheme are three key initiatives that were designed to give undeniable importance to the ever-arching relationship between employee and employer in the knowledge-based economy.
Take-up of the schemes during 2024 and 2025 was steady and positive, demonstrating strong alignment with local needs as Gozo’s economy evolves, shifting to knowledge-based work. In fact, during the period 2024-2025 InvestGozo distributed close to €584,000 in grants, and received more than 850 applications over the two-year period. Those applications found eligible in the last month are scheduled to benefit from grants in 2026.
The initiative Supporting Sustainable Quality Employment in Gozo was enthusiastically received, and over the last 2 years, and to date more than €348,000 in support has been provided to eligible participants. InvestGozo recorded that by the end of November 2025, nearly 750 applications had been submitted over the span of the past two years. The scheme offered partial salary reimbursement to Gozo-based employers for full-time, indefinite employment over a 3-year period and applies to newly hired staff or employees who have been in continuous employment since January 2018 (under previous Gozo employment refund schemes). The ultimate objective was to strengthen sustainable, competitive employment in Gozo by backing stable, long-term, high-quality jobs. This was a way to address the stability of quality jobs in the Gozo labour market by encouraging improved salary packages that ultimately reduce employee turnover and improve workforce retention. Historically, Gozo had an undeniable wage gap relative to the national average salary levels. Many professionals who chose to reside in Gozo had to contend with the crucible of a lower salary. Through the Supporting Sustainable Quality Employment in Gozo Scheme, Invest Gozo addressed this phenomenon by providing employers in Gozo with partial wage refunds when the scheme’s conditions are met. Reimbursement was according to an established salary class, with potential payouts totalling up to €9,750 per employee over 3 years.
The Gozo Telework Scheme, which can be described as the most natural initiative, reflected the reality of Gozitan residents employed by Malta-based organisations. Teleworking has been an option that several employers operating in Malta have offered to Gozo-resident employees for a long time. Such arrangements, which gained momentum and were very popular during the COVID pandemic, vary from sector to sector and from company to company, with some employees visiting mainland Malta at least once a week, while others work completely from Gozo, commuting to Malta only if needed. The Gozo Telework Scheme supported various hybrid models by providing financial aid of up to €10,000 per employee over a period of 3 years, subject to the number of telework days granted through such arrangements. In fact, the objectives of this scheme were to encourage more flexible and remote work arrangements to improve work-life balance and productivity. Telework for Gozitan residents saves at least 2 hours of commute time every day. This leads to a win-win situation for both the employee and the employer. Employees are less stressed, more motivated, and are ultimately happier at their job, while employers benefit from a more engaged and productive workforce, in addition to the monetary incentive. The scheme was also designed to promote modern, adaptable work systems through technology and suitable practices, and employers benefited when they granted teleworking to Gozitan employees, provided they complied with the scheme’s conditions. Aid was provided in two components: a salary refund (as mentioned earlier) and a one-time reimbursement (up to €850) covering 75% of equipment costs, such as laptops, PCs, or printers. Over the past 2 years, interest in this scheme seems to have been waning, with only 14 applications received. So far, InvestGozo has distributed €114,177.91 in aid, including assistance linked to applications received prior to 2024.
Gozo-based enterprises and professionals had the option of applying for the third initiative in this batch: Empowering Gozo’s Knowledge Economy. This scheme was poised for the knowledge-intensive sectors in Gozo, such as software publishing, computer programming and consultancy, data processing, and hosting, financial and insurance activities, legal and accounting activities, activities of head offices and management consultancy, architectural and engineering activities including technical testing and analysis, scientific research and development, specialised design activities and the operations tied to the gaming industry. The scheme provided partial salary reimbursement of up to €8,000 per year for 3 years, plus partial reimbursement of training costs up to €1,500 per year per employee. This initiative aimed to meet the knowledge-based economy head-on, ensuring that the path to the future is one where supporting businesses not only enables a successful transition but also nurtures a higher-value-adding sector, hopefully resulting in a competitive edge for the island. Attracting, retaining, and upskilling a skilled talent pool are the first steps in a knowledge-intensive industry. Intrinsically, sustainability and economic diversification follow from fostering innovation, research, and expertise-based growth. Companies in eligible knowledge-intensive sectors that were beneficiaries (subject to scheme compliance) received aid in the form of salary reimbursement based on annual salary bands (up to €24,000 per employee over 3 years) and partial reimbursement of training, tuition, and eligible travel costs to support employee development. Commenting on the take-up of this particular scheme, Invest Gozo highlighted that around 60% of the eligible applicants who have benefited or are benefiting from the scheme came from the legal and accounting sector and the software development and programming industry. During the period 2024 to 2025, a total of 95 applications were received and to date eligible applicants received a total of €121,755 in salary reimbursement via this scheme.
The combined impact of these three schemes has both immediate and longer-term implications, as they lay the groundwork and reinforce a more competitive labour ecosystem in Gozo. They help address the issues that have kept the island a step behind in the past. Despite the island’s size and limited opportunities, Invest Gozo’s initiatives are helping the island of Gozo to emerge as a dynamic hub, nudging the economy to evolve into one that thrives on the innovative and digital sectors, while offering residents rewarding careers and an exceptional quality of life.