As part of its new employment strategy, which will take effect in 2025, the government has decided to allocate one billion dirhams to support employment in rural areas. This announcement was made on Monday by Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, during the oral questions session in the House of Representatives.
Asked about the measures planned to facilitate the economic and social integration of rural youth, the minister underlined the importance of active employment promotion programs. These initiatives will be structured around three main components, starting with vocational training, identified as an essential lever for boosting the integration of young people in rural areas.
To meet the specificities of the rural world, 67 vocational training establishments are already operational. Among them, 55 fall within the agricultural sector, while 12 are managed by the Office of Vocational Training and Labor Promotion (OFPPT). Added to this are 22 mobile training units, which benefit around 3,000 people, and 139 boarding schools, housing nearly 17,000 young people from rural areas.
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The training offered covers a wide range of sectors adapted to local needs, ranging from poultry, cattle, sheep and goat breeding, to field crops, including electromechanics, rural engineering, repair of agricultural equipment and ‘horticulture. These specializations aim to promote rapid and lasting integration of young people into their professional environment.
Strengthened mechanisms for youth employment
Among the flagship initiatives, the minister highlighted an ambitious career development program, the objective of which is to increase the number of beneficiaries from 20,000 to 100,000, in accordance with the priorities set by the 2025 finance law. The program primarily targets young people without qualifications, who represent a significant portion of the rural population.
Other measures, which will soon be revealed, will complete this overall strategy. The objective is to meet the specific needs of rural populations and offer them concrete opportunities to integrate the job market.
