The Moroccan labor market recorded a moderate improvement in 2025. The national unemployment rate stood at 13%, compared to 13.3% in 2024, representing a decrease of 0.3 percentage points.
• This moderate improvement resulted in a reduction in the number of unemployed, from 1,638,000 to 1,621,000 people, i.e., 17,000 fewer job seekers nationwide.
Sectoral and territorial dynamics The labor market shows uneven signs of recovery depending on geographic areas:
• Urban areas: The rate declined to 16.4% (from 16.7%), remaining the most affected by lack of opportunities.
• Rural areas: A more marked decrease to 6.2% (from 6.7%), suggesting relative stabilization after losses linked to climatic shocks in previous years.
• Underemployment: However, job quality is deteriorating, with the underemployment rate rising to 11.1% (from 10%), revealing increasing precariousness among employed workers.
Demographic disparities Unemployment rates remain critical for certain target groups, highlighting structural barriers to integration:
• Youth (15–24 years): 35.8%, a level that remains alarming despite a slight decline.
• Graduates: 19%, reflecting a persistent mismatch between education and labor market needs.
• Women: 19.9%, showing a worrying increase (from 17.7% in 2024), marking a decline in female labor participation.
Observations and challenges The slight decrease in overall unemployment in 2025 is driven by the continuation of major infrastructure projects and the momentum of the services and industrial sectors. However, the increase in underemployment and the weakening of female employment temper this assessment.
In summary, 2025 was a transitional year for employment in Morocco. While the decline in the national rate is a positive signal, major challenges remain: it is urgent to transform economic growth into sustainable job creation, formalize informal work, and implement targeted public policies for the inclusion of youth and women.