Unemployment Rate in Morocco Surges to 10.5% in Q3 2026
According to official data released by the High Commission for Planning, the unemployment rate in Morocco experienced a significant increase, rising to 10.5% during the third quarter of 2026. This figure marks a notable rise of 0.9 percentage points from the second quarter of this year. The report defines unemployed individuals in a narrow sense as those aged 15 and older who did not engage in any income-generating work in the week leading up to the survey and who actively sought employment or took steps to establish a business in the preceding four weeks.
The youth demographic has been particularly affected, with unemployment rates among individuals aged 15 to 24 soaring to approximately 30.5%. Additionally, female unemployment is reported at 16.7%. The total workforce in Morocco now comprises around 11.7 million individuals, with only 10.5 million employed, reflecting a net reduction of 173,000 people, or a 1.6% decrease, compared to the previous quarter. This decline highlights the ongoing challenges facing the Moroccan labor market.
In response to these pressing issues, the Moroccan government has unveiled plans within the 2027 budget proposal aimed at integrating youth into education, vocational training, and the labor market. This initiative, which spans from 2027 to 2031, is backed by a budget of approximately 6 billion dirhams (around 610 million dollars), with the primary goal of decreasing unemployment rates and enhancing job opportunities for the younger generation.
As reported by alarabiya.net.
