The unemployment rate reached 13.6% in the third quarter of 2024, with a volume of unemployment which exceeds 1.5 million people, reveals the latest information note from the High Commission for Planning (HCP) relating to the situation of the labor market in Q3-2024.
Indeed, the unemployment rate increased slightly, from 13.5% to 13.6% compared to the same period the previous year. This increase, although marginal, is reflected in an increase of 0.4 points in rural areas, where the unemployment rate stands at 7.4%, while in urban areas, it remains stable at 17%, indicates the HCP.
In fact, the total number of unemployed increased by 58,000 people, bringing the total to 1,683,000 unemployed individuals, which represents an increase of 4% compared to 2023. This development reflects an increase of 42,000 unemployed in urban areas and 16,000 in rural areas.
The HCP also points to a worsening of unemployment among young people aged 15 to 24, whose rate increased by 1.3 points, reaching 39.5%. Likewise, people aged 45 and over saw an increase of 0.4 points, rising to 4.1%, while the unemployment rate for women increased by 1 point, rising to 20.8%.
Concerning the link between level of training and unemployment, the results are mixed. Holders of technician and middle management diplomas experienced a rise in unemployment of 2.3 points, as did those with a qualifying secondary education diploma (+0.5 point). On the other hand, higher education graduates benefited from a notable drop in their unemployment rate, which fell from 26.5% to 24.9%, representing the most significant decrease.
Another worrying observation concerns the situation of employed workers in a situation of underemployment, which increased by 60,000 people, reaching a total of 1,066,000 at the national level. In urban areas, the figure rose from 523,000 to 590,000, while it decreased slightly in rural areas, from 482,000 to 476,000.
The underemployment rate thus increased from 9.6% to 10% at the national level, with notable variations going from 8.1% to 8.8% in urban areas, while it remained stable at 12%. in rural areas. As for underemployment linked to the number of hours worked, it increased from 501,000 to 584,000 people, the corresponding rate increasing from 4.8% to 5.5%.
According to the note, the active population facing underemployment due to insufficient income or the mismatch between training and employment fell from 505,000 to 482,000, with a rate of 4.8 % to 4.5%.
By sector of activity, construction and public works (BTP) are positioned at the top of the sectors affected by underemployment, recording an increase of one point, going from 18.9% to 19.9%. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector follows with an increase of 0.7 points, standing at 11.9%.
Employment volume
The volume of employment recorded an increase of 213,000 positions between the third quarters of 2023 and 2024, with the creation of 231,000 jobs in urban areas, offset by a loss of 17,000 positions in rural areas, according to the note.
By analyzing the nature of jobs, 262,000 paid positions were added, resulting in an increase of 218,000 in urban areas and 45,000 in rural areas. On the other hand, unpaid employment decreased by 49,000 positions, with a drop of 62,000 in rural areas compared to an increase of 13,000 in urban areas.
The HCP also reveals an increase in the activity rate, which rose from 43.2% to 43.6% at the national level. In rural areas, this rate fell slightly from 45.8% to 45.7%, while in urban areas, it increased from 41.9% to 42.5%. For men, the activity rate remained stable at 68.6%, while for women it increased from 18.4% to 19.2%.
Regarding the national employment rate, it experienced a slight increase, from 37.4% to 37.6%. In rural areas, this rate decreased from 42.6% to 42.3%, while in urban areas, it increased from 34.8% to 35.3%. On the other hand, the rate remained stable at 60.7% among men and increased from 14.8% to 15.2% for women.
Job creation by sector
the services sector generated 258,000 new jobs (+5%) between the third quarter of 2023 and that of 2024. This progression breaks down into 206,000 jobs created in urban areas and 51,000 in rural areas.
At the same time, the construction sector observed the creation of 57,000 positions, distributed with an addition of 68,000 in rural areas, offset by a loss of 11,000 in urban areas, also an increase of 5% in this area.
Concerning industry, including crafts, 23,000 jobs were added, reflecting growth of 2% thanks to the addition of 27,000 positions in urban areas, while rural areas recorded a loss of 3,000 jobs.
As for the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, this experienced a decline of 124,000 jobs (-5%), resulting from a reduction of 133,000 in rural areas offset by a creation of 9,000 jobs in urban environment.
What are the most active regions?
Five regions of Morocco concentrate 72.4% of workers aged 15 and over in the third quarter of 2024, according to the HCP. The Casablanca-Settat region stands out with 22.3% of assets, followed by Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (13.7%), Marrakech-Safi (12.9%), Fès-Meknes (11.9%) and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (11.6%).
Four of these regions exceed the national activity rate, set at 43.6%, notably Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima (47.6%), Casablanca-Settat (45.7%), the South (45.4% ) and Marrakech-Safi (43.7%). On the other hand, the regions of Drâa-Tafilalet (38.7%), Béni Mellal-Khénifra (39.6%), Oriental (40.2%) and Souss-Massa (41.7%) display the highest rates. lower.
Regarding unemployment, six regions represent 78.1% of the unemployed nationally. Casablanca-Settat is in the lead with 24.9%, followed by Fès-Meknes (13.3%), Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (11.9%), Oriental (10.2%), Marrakech-Safi ( 9.4%) and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (8.4%). The highest unemployment rates are found in the South (24.3%), Oriental (21.4%), Casablanca-Settat (15.3%) and Fès-Meknes (15.2%), while that Marrakech-Safi and Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima record the lowest rates, at 9.9%.
