Morocco's strict unemployment rate fell to 9.5% in the second quarter of 2026, down from 10.2% a year earlier, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP). The economy added approximately 279,000 net jobs, a 2.7% increase in total employment compared to the same period in 2025.
The HCP's new Labour Force Survey, released on August 4, 2026, shows that job creation was driven by the services sector, which added 198,000 jobs, and industry, which gained 67,000 jobs. Agriculture, however, lost 14,000 jobs, reflecting ongoing drought conditions.
Urban areas saw a more significant drop in unemployment, from 13.1% to 12.2%, while rural unemployment remained stable at 4.8%. Youth unemployment (ages 15-24) also improved, falling to 27.4% from 29.8%.
Despite the positive trend, the HCP noted that the labour force participation rate remained low at 43.9%, particularly among women (19.8%), highlighting persistent structural challenges in the Moroccan labour market.
