Unemployment in Morocco slightly decreases in 2022 despite crisis, as drought devastates rural areas

Despite a slight decline in unemployment in Morocco during 2022, the Kingdom lost 24,000 jobs the same year, as the situation nears disaster in rural areas heavily impacted by drought.

According to a recent annual note from the High Commissioner for Planning (HCP), five regions record more than seven unemployed out of every ten residents (71.4%).

The unemployment rate moved from 12.3% to 11.8% on the national level, from 16.9% to 15.8% in urban areas, and from 5% to 5.2%. % in rural areas.

This rate remains high among youth between the ages of 15 and 24 (32.7%), people with a degree (18.6%) and women (17.2%).

The HCP said that the national economy lost 24,000 jobs between 2021 and 2022. This is after the loss of 432,000 positions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and the creation of 230,000 positions in 2021, nearly half the aspired recovery rate.

The state of the labor market in 2022 is the result of a year of attempted recovery that although benefitted some commercial and financial actors, has left many struggling with rising costs, limited budgets and an uncertain future.

However, the relative improvement in unemployment rates is attributed to the relatively improved conditions in urban areas, while rural areas are still suffering from the effects of drought.

With the creation of 150,000 jobs in urban Morocco and the loss of 174,000 jobs in the rural world, the results of last year’s climate have been felt.

In this context, the number of the unemployed decreased at the national level by 66,000 people, to reach 1,442,000 unemployed, as a result of a decrease by 70,000 in urban areas and an increase of 4,000 in rural areas.

According to the same note, the services sector contributed to the creation of 164,000 jobs, the “industry, including traditional industry” sector, contributed 28,000 jobs.

While the “agriculture, forestry and hunting” sector lost 215,000 jobs, and the “construction and public works” sector lost 1,000 jobs.

The HCP confirmed that five regions account for 72.6% of the total active population aged 15 years and over.

The Casablanca-Settat region is leading the ranking with 22.2% of the total number of active cities, followed by Rabat-Sale-Kenitra (13.7%), Marrakesh-Safi (13.1%), then Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (12%) and Fez (12%). Meknes (11.6%).

Three regions recorded activity rates higher than the national average (44.3%): Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (50.1%), Casablanca-Settat (46.7%) and Marrakech-Safi (45.0%).

On the other hand, the lowest rates were recorded in the Souss-Massa regions (38.3%), Draa-Tafilalet (41%) and the Oriental region (42%), according to the same source.

The Casablanca-Settat region comes in the lead with a rate of 25.9% unemployed residents, followed by Fez-Meknes (13.2%), Rabat-Salé-Kenitra (12.7%), then Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima with a rate of 9.8%, and the Oriental region with a rate of 9.8%. %9,8.

The highest unemployment rates were recorded in the southern regions (20.1%) and the eastern regions (17.4%).

On the other hand, the HCP notes a further decline in the activity rate, reaching 44.3%. This decline was significant in rural areas, from 50.9% to 49.1%, compared to urban areas, from 42.3% to 41.9%.

According to the same note, the volume of underemployment increased during the same period from 1,003,000 people to 972,000 at the national level. And from 550,000 to 520,000 in urban areas, and from 453,000 to 452,000 in rural areas.

The underemployment rate declined from 9.3% to 9% at the national level, from 8.8% to 8.1% in urban areas, and from 10% to 10.4% in rural areas.

The activity rate decreased between 2021 and 2022 by 0.8 points, to reach 44.3%, due to the increase in the population of active age (15 years and over) by 1.4%, and the decrease in the active population by 1%.

For its part, the employment rate decreased from 39.7% to 39.1% at the national level, recording a decrease of one point among women, and by 0.3 points among men.