Morocco's unemployment rate stood at 9.5% in the second quarter of 2026, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP). The rate was 11.9% in urban areas and 5.4% in rural areas.
The HCP noted that this figure reflects a new methodology for calculating the active population, which now includes informal workers and those in non-market activities. Under the previous methodology, the unemployment rate would have been 13.1%.
The decline in unemployment is attributed to job creation in the services and construction sectors, as well as a slight increase in agricultural employment. However, youth unemployment remains high, at 30.2% for those aged 15-24.
The HCP also reported that the labor force participation rate increased to 44.8% in Q2 2026, up from 43.9% a year earlier. The number of unemployed persons decreased by 11.3% year-on-year.
Economists caution that the new methodology makes historical comparisons difficult, but the overall trend suggests a gradual improvement in the labor market.
