In Morocco, the baccalaureate exam results for June 2026, released by the Ministry of National Education, show that girls continue to outperform boys. According to official data, the overall success rate for girls was 68.2%, compared to 58.5% for boys. This trend has been consistent for over a decade, with girls achieving higher pass rates in both scientific and literary streams.
Despite this academic success, the transition to the labor market reveals a stark paradox. Data from the High Commission for Planning (HCP) for the first quarter of 2026 indicates that the unemployment rate for women aged 15-24 with a baccalaureate or higher education is 34.7%, compared to 22.1% for men with similar qualifications. Additionally, the female labor force participation rate in Morocco remains low at 22.5%, one of the lowest in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Experts attribute this gap to structural barriers, including gender discrimination in hiring, limited access to professional networks, and societal expectations that prioritize domestic roles for women. A 2025 report by the World Bank noted that Morocco loses an estimated 25% of its potential GDP due to gender gaps in employment.
Government initiatives, such as the 'Tahfiz' program for job creation and the 'Awrach' program for temporary employment, have aimed to address youth unemployment, but their impact on women has been limited. The Ministry of Economic Inclusion announced in May 2026 a new strategy to improve female employment through targeted training and childcare subsidies.
The paradox of high educational achievement and low economic participation for women in Morocco remains a critical challenge for policymakers, as the country seeks to harness the potential of its educated female population for economic growth.
