Morocco's unemployment falls to 9.5% in Q2 as services lead job growth

Morocco’s unemployment rate fell to 9.5% in the second quarter of 2026, down 1.3 percentage points from the first quarter, according to new figures released by the High Commission for Planning (HCP).

The improvement, however, continued to mask persistent disparities affecting women, young people, and university graduates.

The unemployment rate stood at 14.8% among women, compared with 8.1% for men, while young people aged 15 to 24 remained the most affected group, with an unemployment rate of 27.2%. Among those aged 25 to 34, the rate reached 14.5%.

Joblessness also remained significantly higher among educated workers. Unemployment reached 16.7% among university graduates, 16% for holders of intermediate qualifications, and 11.4% for people with basic education, compared with 3.8% among those without formal qualifications.

Morocco’s labor force—comprising employed and unemployed people actively seeking work—reached 11.764 millionduring the second quarter, with 63.5% living in urban areas. That represents an increase of 147,000 people compared with the first quarter.

The labor force participation rate stood at 42.2% nationwide, including 41.2% in urban areas and 44% in rural areas.

A wide gender gap persisted in labor market participation. While 66.5% of men were economically active, the participation rate among women remained at just 18.1%.

The services sector remained Morocco’s largest employer, providing jobs for 5.251 million people, or 49.3% of all employed workers.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing ranked second with 2.569 million workers (24.1%), followed by industry with 1.456 million (13.7%), and construction with 1.356 million (12.7%).

In urban areas, nearly two-thirds of workers (64.5%) were employed in services, while 17.6% worked in industry.

In rural areas, 54.5% of workers were employed in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, while 24.7% worked in services.

The services sector also generated the largest number of new jobs between the first and second quarters of 2026, creating 166,000 positions. Industry added 47,000 jobs, construction created 42,000, and agriculture, forestry, and fishing generated 28,000 new positions during the same period.