Almost 3 million young Moroccans not in education or employment

Morocco has 2.9 million young people aged 15 to 29 who are not in employment, education or training, with women and girls taking up 72% of the figure, Moroccan government-friendly Yabiladi reported on April 23.

The figures come despite continued growth in female employment across parts of Morocco’s manufacturing and export sectors.

Reportedly, almost 75% of young people in Morocco who are not in employment, education, or training (NEETs) do not hold a qualifying diploma.

Nearly 50% of the NEETs are aged between 25-29, according to research by Morocco’s High Commission for Planning produced with support from the International Labour Organization and the European Union. The extent of the 25-29 year olds highlights barriers to formal employment.

The rate of  NEETs reached 33.6% in 2023, up slightly from 33% in 2022, remaining high despite periods of economic recovery. Rates were higher in rural areas than in cities and varied significantly between regions.

At the same time, Morocco has continued expanding its manufacturing, logistics and export industries, particularly in industrial areas including Tangier, Kenitra and Casablanca. In Moroccan industry, women have reportedly been particularly working in the sectors of textiles, agribusiness and electronics assembly as well as parts of the automotive industry.

The World Bank approved a $500 million financing package for Morocco earlier this month aimed at expanding employment opportunities for young people and women, including through labour market reforms, childcare expansion and closer alignment between education and private sector needs.

Despite continued industrial growth, many still struggle to enter stable employment. The risk of being out of work, education or training rose from 25.6% among people aged 15 to 24 to 50.2% among those aged 25 to 29.

The High Commission for Planning said education remained the strongest protection against inactivity, particularly for young women. However, some vocational diploma holders still faced elevated risks of long-term unemployment because of a mismatch between qualifications and available jobs.

Marriage and the presence of young children were also linked to higher levels of inactivity among young women.

Sociologist Hakima Laala of Hassan II University in Casablanca linked the figures to wider social conditions including poverty, violence in households and the streets alongside social exclusion.

She said some young people experienced cycles of violence, delinquency and exclusion that ultimately pushed them out of education and employment altogether.

Laala also criticised social attitudes towards violence and said limited economic opportunities were contributing to what she described as a growing “loss of hope” among Morocco’s youth.

Yabiladi, World Bank Group, Maghrebi.org