According to the latest data from Morocco's High Commission for Planning (HCP) for the first quarter of 2026, the national unemployment rate stands at 13.7%. However, the burden is disproportionately borne by young people and women, with youth unemployment (ages 15-24) at 38% and female unemployment at 22%.
The job deficit is particularly acute in urban areas, where unemployment reaches 17.5%, compared to 7.2% in rural regions. Among young graduates, the situation is even more dire, with a 42% unemployment rate for those with higher education degrees.
Economic analysts attribute this to a mismatch between the skills of job seekers and the needs of the labor market, as well as slow job creation in the formal sector. The HCP report indicates that the informal sector employs over 60% of the workforce, often with low wages and no social protection.
Government initiatives, such as the 'Awrach' program launched in 2022, aim to create temporary jobs and improve employability, but critics argue that structural reforms are needed to address the root causes of the deficit.
