According to recent HCP statistics (High Commission for Morocco’s Planning), the unemployment rate decreased by 13.7 % to 13.3 %, which represents a reduction of 0.4 points. This progression is stimulated by a large generation of urban jobs, but it is offset by the fragility of the agricultural sector and the increase in underemployment, in particular in rural areas.
The figures made public report that between the first quarter of the year 2024 and that of 2025, the net creation of 282,000 jobs was recorded, against the abolition of 80,000 jobs the previous year. This achievement arises mainly from the urban environment, which has created 285,000 jobs, while the rural sector has undergone a decrease of 3,000 positions. Due to the type of work, 319,000 paid positions were created, in opposition to a disappearance of 37,000 unpaid jobs.
Agriculture, the most affected sector
This dynamic was fed by all sectors, with the exception of agriculture. The latter experienced a decrease of 72,000 jobs, representing a 3 % reduction in the volume of jobs in this area. On the other hand, the services caused 216,000 workstations (+4 %), stimulated by social services (+74,000), financial and technical activities (+66,000) and the trade sector (+48,000).
As for the industrial sector, it created 83,000 jobs (+6 %), while construction has generated 52,000 jobs (+4 %).
Men more affected than women
The drop is more pronounced in men (-0.5 points to 11.5 %) compared to women (-0.2 point to set up to 19.9 %). In return, the unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 24 experiences a significant increase, from 35.9 to 37.7 % (+1.8 points), while it decreases in other age categories, moreover among those of 45 and over whose rate fell 4.5 % to 3.9 %.
Superior graduates are doing well
The downward tendency of unemployment of graduates is also in order, with a decrease of 0.9 points to 19.4 %. There is also a more notable improvement among holders of technicians and intermediate executives (-3.9 points to 24 %) as well as those with a professional qualification (-3.6 points to 21.9 %).
However, this increase should be tempered by the significant increase in underemployment (a situation where a person occupies a job, but works less than he wishes or is able to do, or his work does not correspond to his skills or does not produce sufficient income), which goes from 1,069,000 to 1,254,000 individuals at the national level. The undersamuse at the national level increases, from 10.3 % to 11.8 %, with a more marked increase in rural areas (from 12.5 % to 14.8 %) than in urban areas (from 9 % to 10 %).
