Morocco is facing a persistent challenge with youth unemployment, with 37% of citizens between the ages of 15 and 24 currently out of work. The high rate underscores the difficulties young Moroccans face in entering the workforce and contributes to broader economic concerns.
According to the High Commission for Planning (HCP), approximately 400,000 young people enter the job market each year, comprised of roughly 200,000 new graduates from universities and vocational schools, plus another 200,000 newly eligible workers. However, the number of public sector jobs created through the Finance Law typically falls short of demand, reaching a maximum of 50,000 positions, including contract roles in health and education.
“Today, we have a high unemployment rate in the youth category due to a lack of economic dynamics that provide job opportunities,” said Youssef Guerraoui Filali. The private sector alone cannot absorb the large influx of job seekers annually, resulting in a recurring employment deficit.
Experts too point to a disconnect between the skills young graduates possess and the needs of employers. Khalid Doumou noted that the issue of youth employment has been a long-standing problem in Morocco, making it difficult for those with relatively short academic programs to integrate into the labor market. He added, “The task of building pathways for professional or academic training that inevitably lead to employment has grow a square circle.”
There is also a perceived gap between what is taught in educational institutions and what businesses require. Doumou explained that companies often complain about a lack of qualified graduates capable of meeting their needs.
Filali emphasized the need to encourage self-employment and entrepreneurship among young people, suggesting that startups can help alleviate unemployment. He stated, “Launching startups can absorb unemployment in the youth category. An idea that emerges and finds funding allows for self-employment in the first stage, and consequently gives the project leader a chance to develop his business unit in the second stage, even to associate and recruit other young people with him.”
The national unemployment rate experienced a slight decrease between 2024 and 2025, falling from 13.3% to 13%, with the total number of unemployed individuals decreasing by nearly 17,000 to 1.62 million. However, the youth unemployment rate increased from 36.7% in 2024 to 37.2% in 2025, according to Finances News Hebdo.
The Moroccan government has implemented various programs aimed at improving youth employability, such as the Idmaj program launched in 2006, which focuses on providing new professional skills through work experience. Despite these efforts, the youth unemployment challenge remains a significant concern for the country’s economic and social stability.
