Only about 12% of young Moroccan women are active in the labor market, compared to nearly 33% of young men, says a report by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
The numbers reveal an imbalance that economic growth alone has failed to fix. The study says that higher GDP or overall development does not automatically mean more jobs for women.
One key reason, the report explains, is the changing structure of the economy. As Morocco modernized, fewer women were needed in agriculture, where they traditionally worked.
At the same time, industry and services have not expanded in a way that absorbs young women into stable, productive, and formal jobs. Labor market rigidity has also limited opportunities for new female entrants.
The report points to social norms, marriage, family responsibilities, and mobility issues as major barriers.
Many young women remain outside the workforce not because of education or skills, but because of expectations at home, lack of childcare, and unsafe or expensive transport.
The report says that women’s participation will not increase on its own without clear public policies that directly address these realities.
The foundation calls for stronger action to ensure equality at work. This includes closing wage gaps, obliging companies to publish data on gender pay differences, and reinforcing protection against harassment in the workplace.
Flexible and remote work options are also seen as practical tools to help women balance jobs with family responsibilities.
The report says that social norms and family decision-making should shift so that women’s economic participation is seen as a driver of growth, not an exception.
The report says that many women are effectively excluded from work because commuting is unsafe or too costly.
The report suggests dedicated and secure transport options for women, particularly early in the morning and late in the evening.
In rural areas, women’s work is often unpaid and limited to family activities. The researchers argue for expanding agricultural cooperatives, women’s associations, and specialized training in sustainable farming.
Mobile care units and decentralized vocational programs could also reduce isolation and open new economic paths.
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