Morocco’s labour market sees mixed results in ’24
Morocco’s labour market experienced a net gain of 82,000 new jobs in 2024, according to a report from the Higher Planning Commission released on Monday. This growth was driven by a 162,000-job increase in urban areas, though rural regions saw a loss of 80,000 jobs. The overall result marks a significant improvement compared to the previous year, which saw a national loss of 157,000 jobs.
Types of Employment
The growth in employment was primarily due to a rise in paid jobs, which increased by 177,000, while unpaid employment decreased by 95,000. The service sector was the largest contributor, adding 160,000 jobs, followed by industry with 46,000 jobs and construction with 13,000 jobs. However, agriculture, forestry, and fishing experienced a loss of 137,000 jobs.
Unemployment Rates
Unemployment also rose in 2024, with the number of unemployed individuals increasing by 58,000 to a total of 1,638,000. This led to a slight increase in the national unemployment rate, from 13.0 per cent to 13.3 per cent. Urban areas saw an uptick from 16.8 per cent to 16.9 per cent, while rural areas saw a rise from 6.3 per cent to 6.8 per cent. Unemployment remained particularly high among young people (36.7 per cent), graduates (19.6 per cent), and women (19.4 per cent).
Underemployment
Additionally, underemployment increased, with 1,082,000 individuals affected, up from 1,043,000 in 2023. Underemployment rates rose to 10.1 per cent at the national level, 8.9 per cent in urban areas, and 12.2 per cent in rural areas.
Activity Rate
The activity rate, a measure of the working-age population engaged in the labor market, showed a slight decrease, from 43.6 per cent in 2023 to 43.5 per cent in 2024. This drop was more pronounced in rural areas, where the rate fell from 47.3 per cent to 46.5 per cent, while urban areas saw a slight increase from 41.8 per cent to 42.0 per cent. The activity rate among women rose by 0.1 percentage points, reaching 19.1 per cent, while it decreased among men by 0.4 percentage points, to 68.6 per cent.
Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
Subediting: Y.Yasser