Sekkouri reports slight drop in unemployment as Government expands job programs

Morocco’s unemployment rate has seen a slight decline despite job losses linked to ongoing drought conditions, Economy Integration Minister Younes Sekkouri told parliament Monday.

Sekkouri said unemployment dropped from 13.7% to 12.8% earlier this year and stands at roughly 13.1% in the third quarter. He reported that more than 160,000 jobs were created, with industry, services, public works and construction remaining the country’s main employment drivers.

Speaking during a session of oral questions in the House of Representatives, Sekkouri said the government’s national employment roadmap has begun yielding results, particularly through a professional apprenticeship program targeting youth with no formal education, training or degrees.

Addressing delays in the rollout of the “Cities of Professions and Skills” network, Sekkouri said rising construction costs in 2021 and 2022 forced several contractors to halt work. The government injected additional funding in two phases to keep the program on track, he said, noting that centers in Laayoune, Nador, Tangier and most recently Dakhla have opened, with more scheduled.

On support for small and medium-sized enterprises, the minister said a high-level committee chaired by the prime minister has completed work on new investment incentives. The plan includes covering 30% of SMEs’ capital expenditures through grants, including a hiring incentive, regional investment bonuses for remote areas and support for priority sectors.

Sekkouri added that procedures for accessing these grants have been simplified, and coordination with the National Agency for Employment and Skills (ANAPEC) aims to reduce labor-cost burdens on small businesses.

Regarding rural employment, he noted that most job losses recorded in recent years occurred in rural areas due to declining agricultural activity. He said the government views the apprenticeship program as a key tool to support youth in rural communities and help address structural employment challenges outside urban centers.