According to the High Commission for Planning (HCP), Morocco's unemployment rate reached 10.5% in the third quarter of 2026, an increase of 0.9 points from the previous quarter. The national rate remains lower than in the first quarter (10.8%). The number of unemployed individuals rose by 103,000 to 1.224 million, with 76.4% residing in urban areas. The unemployment rate stands at 12.5% in cities and 6.9% in rural areas.
The youth population, aged 15-24, bears the brunt of unemployment, with a rate of 30.5%, up from 27.2% in the second quarter. This represents an increase of 3.3 points, the highest among all age groups. In urban areas, youth unemployment reaches 39.2%, while in rural areas it stands at 17.9%. The labor force participation rate for this age group is only 23.3%, with an employment rate of 16.2%, the lowest among all age groups.
The unemployment rate for women stands at 16.7%, nearly double that of men, which is 8.7%. This gap has widened by 1.9 points for women and 0.6 points for men. In urban areas, women's unemployment reaches 20.4%, while in rural areas it is 7.4%. The composite rate of underemployment, which includes unemployed individuals, potential labor force, and those with part-time jobs, stands at 28.5% for women and 17.0% for men.
The labor market lost 173,000 jobs in the third quarter, a decrease of 1.6% from the previous quarter. The number of employed individuals stands at 10.47 million. The agricultural, forestry, and fishing sectors experienced the largest job losses, with 145,000 positions eliminated, a decline of 5.6%. The services sector lost 96,000 jobs, a decrease of 1.8%, while the construction sector lost 3,000 jobs, a decline of 0.2%.
In contrast, the industrial sector added 69,000 jobs, an increase of 4.8%. The HCP notes that the net differences between quarters do not necessarily indicate a structural change. The number of employed individuals remains 106,000 higher than in the first quarter. The number of people in underemployment increased by 80,000 to 2.4 million, with 50.2% being unemployed and 29.9% part of the potential labor force.
The composite rate of underemployment stands at 19.6%, down from 18.9% in the second quarter and 22.5% in the first quarter. The youth population, aged 15-24, has a high underemployment rate of 44.5%, an increase of 2.8 points. In urban areas, this rate reaches 51.3%. The labor force participation rate decreased from 42.2% to 41.8%, with a decline in the labor force by 70,000 to 11.694 million.
Regionally, the Kelmim-Wad Noun region recorded the highest unemployment rate at 17.2%, followed by Draa-Tafilalet (14.7%) and the East region (13.7%). The lowest rate was recorded in the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region at 4.6%. The labor force participation rate varied significantly across regions, ranging from 30.2% in Draa-Tafilalet to 64.7% in Dakhla-Oued Eddahab.
Key points
- Youth unemployment in Morocco exceeds 30%, with a rate of 30.5% for individuals aged 15-24.
- Women's unemployment stands at 16.7%, nearly double the rate for men.
- The labor market lost 173,000 jobs in the third quarter, with the agricultural sector experiencing the largest decline.
