Rising Unemployment Rates and Gender Disparities
The latest report titled “Social Indicators of Morocco for 2026,” published by the High Commission for Planning, highlights persistent social and economic challenges facing the country. Among the most pressing issues are the increasing unemployment rate and the ongoing gender disparities within the job market, alongside significant regional inequalities in access to healthcare and education. As of 2024, the unemployment rate has risen to 13.3%, up from 13% in the previous year, with a staggering 1.64 million individuals currently unemployed. The labor force comprises 12.31 million people, of which 10.67 million are employed. The employment rate stands at 37.7%, reflecting a substantial gap between men and women. Specifically, the activity rate for men is 68.6% compared to just 19.1% for women, with employment rates of 60.7% and 15.3% respectively. The southern regions of Morocco report the highest unemployment rates, with figures soaring to 22.2% in the south, followed by 20.9% in the eastern regions and 15% in Casablanca-Settat.
Education Sector Developments and Healthcare Coverage
In the education sector, the report outlines that the number of students reached 10.67 million for the 2024-2025 academic year. This figure includes 4.51 million in primary education, 2.20 million in lower secondary education, and 1.35 million in upper secondary education. Additionally, there are 1.25 million students in higher education and 405,000 enrolled in vocational training institutions. The enrollment rate for children aged four to five years is at 70.4%, rising to 99.1% for those between six and eleven years old, indicating significant progress in educational access. However, disparities still exist, particularly in secondary education, where the net enrollment rates are 99.1% for primary, 78.5% for lower secondary, and 53.5% for upper secondary education. On the health front, the report reveals that medical coverage in Morocco has approached 70%, with a national average of 69.8%. This coverage varies significantly between urban (69.3%) and rural (70.6%) areas, with regional disparities evident as well, ranging from 75.5% in Fes-Meknes to 62.2% in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima. The public health infrastructure includes 3,065 primary healthcare facilities and 177 hospitals, with a budget allocation of 30.69 billion dirhams for the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in 2024, signaling an increase from previous years. These indicators reflect rapid changes in Morocco's demographic and social structure, marked by an aging population, declining fertility rates, smaller household sizes, delayed marriage ages, and rising rates of singleness, all of which contribute to the ongoing challenges related to labor markets and access to essential services across different demographics and regions.
As reported by al3omk.com.
