The unemployment rate in the Kingdom rose from 11.8% to 13% in 2023, with a notable increase in rural areas from 5.2% to 6.3% and urban regions from 15.8% to 16.8%, according to Morocco’s Statistics and Forecasts Office (HCP) report.
The HCP’s 2023 labor market report revealed a significant loss of 157,000 jobs in the national economy, primarily due to a decline in rural employment of 198,000 despite the creation of 41,000 paid positions, while highlighting a 24,000-job loss over the previous year.
In terms of jobs, 50,000 paid jobs were generated, with 59,000 new positions in cities and 9,000 eliminated in rural zones.
Non-paid employment decreased by 209,000 jobs, primarily due to a loss of 190,000 jobs in rural areas and 19,000 jobs in urban areas.
The overall activity rate fell by 0.7%, reaching 43.6%, while the employment rate fell from 39.1% to 38%. As a result, the joblessness percentage ticked up 1.2%, reaching 13% compared to the last year. It remains highest among youths 15–24-year-old (35.8%), graduates (19.7%) and women (18.3%).
This rise resulted in an extra 138,000 individuals joining the ranks of the unemployed, representing a 10% increase from 1,442,000 to 1,580,000 individuals.
In terms of educational attainment, the unemployment rate increased by 1.1 points among graduates (from 18.6% to 19.7%) and by 0.7 points among those without diplomas (from 4.2% to 4.9%).
According to the report, the following five regions account for 69.8% of Morocco’s unemployment population. Casablanca-Settat leads the way with 25.8%, followed by Fes-Meknes (12.7%), Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (12.3%), the eastern region (9.7%), and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (9.2%).
In addition, five regions account for 72.6% of the total workforce aged 15 and above. Casablanca-Settat leads with 22.4%, followed by Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (13.8%), Marrakech-Safi (13%), Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (11.8%), and Fes-Meknes (11.6%).