Morocco's High Commission for Planning (HCP) released the first results of the new Labor Force Survey (EMO2026) for the first quarter of 2026. The survey, conducted between January and March 2026, is part of a new generation of labor market surveys aligned with international standards from the 19th, 20th, and 21st International Conference of Labour Statisticians.
According to the HCP, the national unemployment rate stood at 13.7% in Q1 2026, compared to 13.0% in the same period of 2025. Urban unemployment reached 16.2%, while rural unemployment was 7.8%. The labor force participation rate was 43.5%, down from 44.1% a year earlier.
The survey also highlighted that 1.7 million people were unemployed, with 30.5% of them being young people aged 15-24. The employment rate for women was 19.2%, significantly lower than the 67.5% for men. The informal sector accounted for 58.3% of total employment outside agriculture.
These figures are based on a new methodology that includes improved sampling and updated definitions, making direct comparisons with previous surveys limited. The HCP emphasized that the EMO2026 provides more accurate data on underemployment and informal work.
