Unlike countries like France, where the lack of labor is often cited as a major obstacle to the energy transition, Morocco has an excess supply in terms of profiles, which the market is struggling to absorb.
It is a silent crisis, but very real. While the energy transition has mobilized colossal capital since the implementation of the energy strategy in 2009, the question of the qualified skills necessary for its implementation remains strangely absent from the debates.
Last October alone, the Minister of Economic Inclusion, Younes Sekkouri, announced, on the sidelines of the 4th edition of Power to X held in Marrakech, the creation of 300,000 jobs – additional – in the energy sector. clean, including within the green hydrogen sector. These positions aim to accelerate decarbonization and boost electric mobility.
However, Morocco today trains more young people in the energy transition than it is able to absorb. Since the launch of the energy mix strategy, the Kingdom has equipped itself with a training network intended to prepare a qualified workforce for the challenges of renewable energies and energy efficiency.
At the heart of this system are the Training Institutes for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Professions (IFMEREE), located in Oujda, Tangier and Ouarzazate. These establishments, supported by the European Union, offer specialized courses in solar and wind systems, and energy efficiency in buildings as well as in biogas management, as well as development programs for professionals.
Added to this are the training courses offered in public universities, such as the National School of Arts and Crafts of Casablanca or Cadi Ayad University, as well as in private establishments such as the International University of Casablanca (UIC) or the UM6P.
These training courses target various outlets, ranging from design offices to local authorities, including industrial companies. “There is real enthusiasm for all sectors linked to the energy transition,” underlines an administrative manager at Cadi Ayad University.
Lack of qualified labor
These educational initiatives, distributed throughout the territory, aim to support national ambitions in terms of decarbonization of the economy and to strengthen a regional position as a model of energy transition. Well-established professions, such as solar installers, benefit from an abundance of profiles in the market. In the solar sector, technicians specializing in the installation and maintenance of solar panels constitute the most sought-after profiles.
“The supply is abundant, but these jobs are not filled on the market, to the point that even qualified engineers find themselves unemployed,” said Abdelkhalek Baou, general manager at SunQ.
“We must keep in mind that we remain a small market. The opportunities offered by the State are limited, and the private sector cannot absorb everything,” he confides.
Paradoxically, other sectors, such as refrigeration, struggle to recruit competent professionals, although these professions are closely linked to the energy transition. In the refrigeration and climate engineering sector, “the concern is with the competent workforce,” says Saïd El Harch, president of the Moroccan Association of Refrigeration Professionals.
“Even candidates recruited for their training or particular skills learn on the job.” Refrigeration engineers and refrigeration technicians play a key role in improving the energy efficiency of cooling systems and reducing the use of refrigerant gases, often responsible for high CO₂ emissions.
Poorly valued professions
Professions linked to the energy transition cover a wide range of technical, scientific and managerial specialties. In addition to the refrigeration and solar sectors, other classic professions are emerging, such as thermal insulation experts, responsible for reducing energy losses in buildings, or waste management technicians, essential links in the circular economy. Rarer profiles, such as specialists in green hydrogen, are particularly strategic. Their expertise, focused on the storage and use of hydrogen as clean energy, is crucial.
Faced with persistent tensions on the job market, many young graduates are considering going abroad as an opportunity. Canada stands out as a popular destination for renewable energy talent, while European countries like France and Belgium, known for their vibrant green economy ecosystem, also attract these skills.
Germany, with its ambitious energy transition program, remains another welcoming country for these professionals looking for prospects that match their expertise. If employment prospects in renewable energies remain limited, it is above all due to an unsuitable regulatory framework. The lack of regulation, particularly in the domestic and industrial sectors, slows down the installation of gigawatts of clean energy.
This energy, which could nevertheless bring a stagnant renewable share to around 20% of the electricity mix, remains in limbo, the victim of structural blockages.
As a direct consequence, the brain drain is accelerating. Graduates from energy sectors join the growing cohort of Moroccan professionals who look elsewhere for prospects that match their expertise. Like doctors, these energy specialists aspire to horizons where their skills could fully contribute to the development of their country.
Qualified skills are lacking
The energy transition creates a growing demand for qualified jobs but reveals a persistent weakness. According to the players in the different sectors, even the profiles selected for their expertise struggle to immediately meet the requirements and must acquire part of their skills in the field.
This observation highlights the absence of training adapted to emerging professions, such as those linked to hydrogen or sustainable mobility. The market is still struggling to meet the needs of businesses due to this gap.
The development of professional training and support for the retraining of workers from fossil fuels are becoming urgent priorities. Strengthening synergies between public policies, the private sector and communication around these professions of the future could help transform these challenges into concrete opportunities for the economy and help to further reduce unemployment.
Ayoub Ibnoulfassih / ECO Inspirations
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