Unemployment rate in Morocco reaches 21.3% in 2024 against 16.2% in 2014

RABAT - The results of the General Population and Housing Census (RGPH 2024) published by the High Commission for Planning (HCP) reveal a worrying increase in the unemployment rate in Morocco, which rose from 16.2% in 2014 to 21.3% in 2024.

The RGPH 2024 reveals that approximately 41.6% of Moroccans aged 15 and over are economically active, compared to 47.6% in 2014. This decline in activity affects men more, whose employment rate fell from 75.5% to 67.1%, than women, whose rate fell from 20.4% to 16.8%.

The geographical distribution also highlights glaring inequalities. In urban areas, the unemployment rate rose from 19.3% to 21.2%, while in rural areas it jumped from 10.5% to 21.4%.

Women continue to pay a heavy price for this crisis as their unemployment rate remains higher than that of men, reaching 25.9% in 2024, compared to 20.1% for the latter.

Some regions have unemployment rates well above the national average. The incidence of this problem is higher in the regions of Guelmim-Oued Noun (31.5%), Oriental (30.4%), Béni Mellal-Khénifra (26.8%), Laayoune-Sakia Hamra (26.6%) and Fez-Meknes (23.3%).

The unemployment rate is relatively lower in the regions of Dakhla -Oued Ed-Dahab (10.6%), Casablanca-Settat (18.8%), Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (19.6%), Souss-Massa (19.7%) and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (19.8%).