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Morocco's Unemployment Rate Climbs to 13.7% in the first Quarter of 2024
Morocco's unemployment rate has seen a significant surge, rising to 13.7% in the first quarter of 2024, according to the latest figures released by the High Commission for Planning (HCP). This represents an increase of 0.8 percentage points compared to the same period in 2023, when the rate stood at 12.9%.
The urban unemployment rate experienced a 0.5 percentage point rise, climbing from 17.1% to 17.6%, while the rural rate saw a more substantial 1.1 percentage point increase, from 5.7% to 6.8%. Notably, women were disproportionately affected, with the unemployment rate among females soaring by 2 percentage points, from 18.1% to 20.1%. The rate for men also experienced an uptick of 0.5 percentage points, rising from 11.5% to 12%.
The HCP's report further revealed that the number of unemployed individuals increased by 96,000 between the first quarters of 2023 and 2024, rising from 1,549,000 to 1,645,000 – a 6% spike. This translates to an additional 59,000 unemployed individuals in urban areas and 38,000 in rural regions.
Alarmingly, youth unemployment witnessed a significant 0.6 percentage point increase, reaching 35.9% among those aged 15 to 24. The 25 to 34 age group experienced a 1.1 percentage point rise, with their unemployment rate climbing to 22%. Those aged 35 to 44 saw a 0.9 percentage point increase, reaching 8%, while the rate for individuals aged 45 and above rose by 0.7 percentage points to 4.5%.
The unemployment rate among graduates also witnessed a 0.5 percentage point increase, reaching 20.3%. This surge was particularly pronounced among holders of vocational or professional qualifications, with a 2.7 percentage point rise to 25.4%, and those with qualifying secondary education diplomas, which saw a 1 percentage point increase to 23.6%.
Turning to the issue of underemployment, the volume of employed individuals in situations of underemployment decreased from 1,075,000 to 1,069,000 between the first quarters of 2023 and 2024 at the national level (from 573,000 to 571,000 in urban areas and from 502,000 to 499,000 in rural regions).
The underemployment rate remained stagnant at 10.3% nationally, standing at 12.5% in rural areas and 9% in urban centers.
Regarding the volume of the employed population in underemployment situations in terms of the number of hours worked, it increased from 513,000 to 576,000 individuals nationwide. The corresponding rate rose from 4.9% to 5.6%.
The employed population in underemployment situations due to insufficient income or a mismatch between their training and the job they hold decreased from 562,000 to 493,000 individuals nationwide. The corresponding rate fell from 5.4% to 4.8%.
The HCP's report also highlighted that the sectors experiencing a decline in underemployment rates were construction and public works, with a 1.4 percentage point decrease to 19%, and industry, including crafts, with a 0.8 percentage point drop to 6.3%.
On the other hand, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors, as well as services, saw underemployment rates increase, rising by 0.4 percentage points to 12.1% and 0.5 percentage points to 8.3%, respectively.
As Morocco grapples with these concerning unemployment and underemployment trends, policymakers and stakeholders must urgently address the underlying factors driving these challenges. Concerted efforts are needed to stimulate job creation, promote economic diversification, and equip the workforce with the skills necessary to thrive in an evolving job market.
