Morocco is grappling with a complex unemployment landscape, with rates varying significantly across regions, worsening in rural areas, and disproportionately affecting women and young people. The country's approach to addressing this issue is shifting towards regionalization, which involves decentralizing power and allowing local authorities to develop policies tailored to their specific needs. This approach aims to create a more effective and responsive governance system.
The Moroccan government has been working to strengthen regional governance, but the effectiveness of this approach remains to be seen. According to data from the Haut-Commissariat au Plan, the national unemployment rate stood at 13% in 2025, with a peak of 37.2% among young people aged 15-24. The same data shows that the urban areas generated 203,000 new jobs, while rural areas lost 10,000 jobs during the same period.
Regional disparities in unemployment rates are striking, with Casablanca-Settat accounting for 25.5% of the country's job seekers and an unemployment rate of 14.6%. In contrast, the Oriental region had an unemployment rate of 22.1%. These numbers highlight the need for region-specific policies that take into account local realities and tailor solutions to address the unique challenges of each area.
To effectively address unemployment, Morocco needs to align its national policies with local realities. The government has introduced new tools and concepts to measure employment, including the Enquête sur la main-d'œuvre, which sheds light on the specific issue of NEETs (young people not in employment, education, or training). However, a more comprehensive approach is required, incorporating qualitative analysis and local diagnostics to identify the root causes of unemployment.
Local councils have been given more autonomy, but their ability to stimulate investment, promote employment, and drive economic growth remains limited. The key question is what role should local and regional councils play in addressing unemployment, and what tools and resources do they need to make a meaningful impact. Effective collaboration between local stakeholders, including businesses, training institutions, and social partners, is crucial.
A major challenge facing Morocco's regionalization efforts is the varying levels of development across regions. Some areas have a strong productive base, modern infrastructure, and abundant job opportunities, while others struggle with economic stagnation, limited infrastructure, and a lack of opportunities. Tailoring policies to address these disparities is essential to ensure that each region can unlock its potential and create jobs.
The stakes are high, with Morocco's young people demanding tangible results and opportunities. The success of the country's regionalization efforts will depend on its ability to create a more responsive and effective governance system, one that empowers local authorities to drive growth, promote employment, and improve living standards. The outcome will have a lasting impact on Morocco's economic and social development.
Key points
- Morocco's regionalization efforts aim to address unemployment by empowering local governance and tailoring policies to regional realities.
- The country's unemployment landscape is complex, with significant regional disparities and a disproportionate impact on women and young people.
- Effective collaboration between local stakeholders and a more comprehensive approach to addressing unemployment are crucial to the success of Morocco's regionalization efforts.
