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Rabat – The results of Morocco’s general population and housing census revealed that the unemployment in the country rate has increased to 21.3%.
Chakib Benmoussa, the High Commissioner for Planning, announced the findings during a press conference today, showing a significant rise compared to the 2014 census, when unemployment was at 16.2%.
This figure differs from the 13.6% unemployment rate reported last month by the High Commission for Planning (HCP). The previous number was based on quarterly labor market data, which showed the number of unemployed people increasing from 1.625 million to 1.683 million in the third quarter of 2024.
Benmoussa explained that the difference between the two figures is normal. Census results are based on responses provided by households at a specific time, while quarterly HCP data rely on detailed surveys with specific methods over longer periods.
The census results also showed regional differences in unemployment. The Guelmim-Oued Noun region recorded the highest unemployment rate at 31.5%, followed by the Oriental region at 30.4%, Beni Mellal-Khenifra at 26.8%, and Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra at 26.6%.
Read also: Morocco Sees Highest Unemployment Rate Among Graduates in Over 18 Years
The Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region reported the lowest unemployment rate at 10.6%, while Casablanca-Settat, Morocco’s economic hub, recorded 18.8%.
The findings also revealed a significant gender gap in joblessness. Unemployment is higher among women at 25.9%, compared to 20.1% among men. The rates are similar in rural and urban areas, with 21.4% unemployment in rural areas and 21.2% in urban areas.
Benmoussa said that the census provides a snapshot of unemployment at a specific moment, which is subject to change. In contrast, HCP’s quarterly surveys, which target 90,000 households, are more accurate and provide detailed insights at the national, regional, and local levels, he argued.
