Addressing Morocco's Escalating Graduate Unemployment Crisis

Tuesday 19 March 2024 - 16:12

Morocco is currently facing an alarming surge in unemployment rates among university graduates, reaching its highest level in over 18 years. According to recent data from the country's Higher Commission of Planning (HCP), the unemployment rate for degree holders has soared to a concerning 25.9% in 2023, almost double the national average of 13%.

The statistics paint a bleak picture for Morocco's educated youth, with unemployment among university graduates skyrocketing from 21% in 2019 to a staggering 25.9% in 2021. The situation is particularly dire for holders of higher-level diplomas, such as medical and pharmacy doctorates, witnessing a 0.7 percentage point surge to 9.4% unemployment.

Intermediate-level diploma holders faced a significant blow, with their unemployment rate climbing from 14.1% to 15.8%. Alarmingly, those with specialized professional certifications experienced a 2.5 percentage point spike, pushing their unemployment rate to 25%.

The crisis extends beyond recent graduates, as the number of unemployed individuals who previously held jobs rose from 673,000 to 771,000 between 2022 and 2023. Notably, a substantial 80.9% of these individuals reside in urban areas, with men comprising 79% of this group.

A concerning revelation is that nearly 7 out of 10 individuals (71.2%) who exited the job market possess a university degree, highlighting a significant mismatch between higher education skills and labor market demands.

The age factor exacerbates the crisis, with 82.3% of the unemployed residing in urban areas in 2023, and 75% under the age of 35. Additionally, 82.6% of the jobless are graduates, with women accounting for 31.1% of this group.

Compounding the issue, nearly half of the unemployed (51.2%) are first-time job seekers, and 66% have been without work for a year or more, underscoring the entrenched nature of this crisis.

As Morocco grapples with this escalating unemployment crisis among its educated youth, urgent measures are necessary to bridge the gap between higher education skills and labor market demands. Failure to address this pressing issue could have far-reaching consequences for the country's economic growth and social stability.