According to the latest report from the High Commission for Planning (HCP), the labor market in Morocco continued to feel the effects of drought in the second quarter of 2024. Between the second quarter of 2023 and the same period in 2024, 141,000 jobs were lost in rural areas, mostly unpaid positions, while 60,000 jobs were created in urban areas, resulting in a net loss of 82,000 jobs overall.
Sector-specific job changes
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing: This sector saw a significant decrease, losing 152,000 jobs.
- Construction: The sector also faced losses, with 35,000 jobs cut.
- Industry (including handicrafts): In contrast, this sector created 58,000 jobs.
- Services: Added 49,000 jobs, showing resilience in a challenging economic climate.
Rising unemployment
The total number of unemployed people increased by 90,000, with 48,000 in urban areas and 42,000 in rural areas, bringing the national total to 1,633,000 unemployed individuals. Consequently, the national unemployment rate rose from 12.4% to 13.1% (+0.7 points), from 16.3% to 16.7% in urban areas (+0.4 points), and from 5.7% to 6.7% in rural areas (+1 point). Unemployment remains particularly high among young people aged 15 to 24 (36.1%), graduates (19.4%), and women (17.7%).
Underemployment increase
The number of underemployed individuals increased from 983,000 to 1,042,000 nationwide, from 549,000 to 552,000 in urban areas, and from 434,000 to 490,000 in rural areas between the second quarters of 2023 and 2024. Consequently, the underemployment rate rose from 9% to 9.6% nationally, from 9.9% to 11.6% in rural areas, while it slightly decreased from 8.4% to 8.3% in urban areas.
