Morocco’s Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) convened a workshop on Wednesday to present the findings of research into the number of Morocco’s young people who are “Not in Education, Employment, or Training,” a demographic category abbreviated as “NEET.” These are young people who are unemployed and not receiving an education (either formal or informal) and are not in training for employment. A large number of Moroccan youth who are in this category attended the workshop.
According to the report, entitled “NEET Youth: What Perspectives for Socio-economic Inclusion?,” Morocco is home to a staggering 1.5 million of these young people, highlighting the critical reality that 25.2% of all Moroccans aged 15 to 24 are in the NEET category.
If one extends the age bracket to an upper end of 35 years old, the number of young NEETs is a soaring 4.3 million, indicating the scope of the challenge facing Morocco in ensuring the socio-economic inclusion of its young people.
According to the report, urban areas have a NEET rate of 21.8%, accounting for around 771,000 young people, whereas rural areas face a more serious situation. The countryside has 30.3% of the youngsters categorized as NEET, corresponding to around 715,000 individuals.
The study reveals important obstacles to achieving socioeconomic inclusion for Morocco’s youth. The primary drivers of “NEET” youth, according to the report, are high rates of school dropouts, a lack of vocational training opportunities, and a variety of socioeconomic challenges. A number of socioeconomic barriers amplify the issue including social problems, cultural and family constraints, early marriage of girls, child labor, and disability.
A significant percentage of NEET Moroccans (around 60%) perceive that there is a mismatch between their educational background and job market requirements.
Finally, gender discrimination is a significant factor, as well as the burden of domestic tasks and housework that particularly penalize women. Women account for around 73% of NEETs, with 60% of them lacking any formal qualifications.
The Chairman of CESE, Ahmed Reda Chami, explained that the social and economic integration of young people is a growing concern in developing the government’s public policy, having repeatedly been brought to the fore by King Mohamed VI in his Royal Speeches.
“It is also one of the strategic directions of the new development model and a cross-cutting objective in the measures announced in the government program (2021-2026),” he added.
CESE is a constitutional body created by King Mohammed VI in 2011 to conduct studies and provide recommendations to the government on appropriate public policies, sustainable development, and how to address regionalization, among other things.