During a parliamentary session where only 45 deputies were present, the Minister of Economic Integration, Small Business, Employment and Skills, Younes Sekkouri, exposed the multiple challenges that Morocco faces to reduce unemployment. endemic which now exceeds 21%. He notably revealed “that two thirds of the unemployed, or around 900,000 people, do not have diplomas.” The latter, according to his remarks, had long been excluded from public measures to combat unemployment.
Younes Sekkouri mentioned the 2025 finance bill, which provides for an envelope of 14 billion dirhams, distributed between support for small and medium-sized businesses and specific initiatives for the rural world. However, he admitted that the problem remains complex and cumulative, highlighting the need for increased collaboration between regions and local authorities.
According to the minister, unemployment in rural areas represents a significant part of national statistics. To remedy this, the government, criticized for its poor record in this area, is focusing on three main areas: professional training, with 67 active centers, including 55 dedicated to the agricultural sector; apprenticeship programs aimed at integrating 100,000 individuals; and active employment initiatives benefiting from a budget of one billion dirhams for rural areas. The minister also announced new projects being developed, aimed at people without diplomas in rural areas, without necessarily confining them to agricultural activities.
The minister took stock of current programs, including that of the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills (ANAPEC). However, he recognized that these efforts remain insufficient to meet the needs of a million unemployed people, the majority of whom have no qualifications, particularly in remote areas that are unattractive to investors.
To encourage small and medium-sized businesses to hire, the government has introduced an employment bonus of 1,500 dirhams per employee. This measure enabled, in just a few months, the hiring of 22,000 people in 1,900 companies. However, Sekkouri indicated that “budgetary constraints limit the expansion of this approach.” The government also plans an in-depth reform of ANAPEC, with an allocation of one billion dirhams. The objective is to increase employment opportunities for people without qualifications and to integrate 200,000 unemployed people per year, as part of a global plan aimed at reducing a deficit of 1.6 million jobs.
