Morocco marks World Day for Decent Work amid soaring youth unemployment

On the occasion of World Day for Decent Work, Morocco’s job market, especially for young people, is becoming increasingly tough.

High youth unemployment, widespread job insecurity, and weak connections between education and the labor market continue to restrict opportunities and widen social and economic gaps.

Union demands reforms

The Democratic Labor Organization (ODT) revealed that joblessness among young people aged 15 to 24 has reached 35.8%, and 33.3% among female university graduates.

The union warned of worsening conditions for workers, highlighting that the overall unemployment rate stands at 13%, rising to nearly 19% among people with university degrees.

The ODT also pointed to growing job insecurity.

Most new jobs are temporary, and 73.2% of young workers have no written contracts. About 67% of active youth work in the informal sector, with no access to basic rights. Meanwhile, women’s participation in the labor market remains very low at 19%.

The organization blamed government policies for this situation, criticizing what it called the “failure of public programs and misuse of public funds.”

It said that initiatives such as Forsa, Intilaka, and Awrash have not met their goals despite large budgets.

Around 30,000 small and medium-sized businesses go bankrupt every year because of heavy taxes and a lack of incentives, leading to thousands of job losses.

According to the ODT, low wages and the high cost of living are pushing many young Moroccans, especially Gen Z, to peacefully demand change through a national movement calling for fair employment policies and stronger action against corruption.

The ODT renewed its call for a new social contract that ensures fair taxation, protects workers’ rights, and provides social protection for everyone.

The union said the current labor situation, marked by instability and violations, shows the need for urgent change, urging decision-makers to rethink social and economic policies and to put workers’ dignity at the center of national priorities.

It called for investing in youth skills, especially in digital technology and AI, and improving vocational training to match job market needs.

It also urged support for small and medium enterprises and measures to integrate the informal sector through tax relief.

It additionally called for stronger enforcement of the labor code, more workplace inspections, full social protection, and respect for union rights.

It demanded serious efforts to fight corruption and waste in job programs so they can deliver real results.

Structural barriers persist

In turn, the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) highlighted in its 2024 annual report a set of structural barriers preventing Moroccan youth from entering the labor market.

These challenges, it said, are not temporary or circumstantial but stem from persistent structural constraints.

It argued that the main issues appear in the difficult transition from education to employment, as well as in the weak coordination among public mechanisms and policies related to education, employment, and socio-economic integration.

The report noted that about 70.4% of unemployed youth have been jobless for more than a year, and 73.4% have never worked before.

This shows “how limited the paths to employment are, especially when it comes to training, career guidance, and local professional mediation mechanisms.”

The CESE said that having a university degree no longer guarantees a job.

Unemployment among young people aged 15 to 24 with higher education has reached 61.2%, showing a big gap between what schools teach and what the labor market needs.

The report also said that few young people use job mediation services, which may mean “they don’t trust these institutions or find it difficult to navigate existing support systems for professional integration.”

The Council pointed to the large number of public programs aimed at youth employment, saying “they often work separately without a unified strategic framework or coordinated follow-up.”

As a result, most young people are unaware of these programs, and only a small number engage with at least one of them.

The report added that formal job opportunities remain limited, especially for those who did not finish their education or lack the skills employers are looking for.

Because of this, many young people resort to starting their own businesses out of necessity rather than real opportunity, it added.

Rural youth face even greater challenges, including long distances from economic centers, high transport and housing costs, and weak support services that prevent them from taking advantage of opportunities.

Young women, the CESE added, face extra obstacles such as unsafe transport, limited independence in economic activities, and ongoing social restrictions and discrimination in rural communities.