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Fez – Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept in Morocco. It is already becoming part of daily operations in sectors ranging from transport and industry to agriculture and logistics.
While this technological shift is expected to boost productivity and support economic growth, a new United Nations report warns that it could also deepen social and employment inequalities if no action is taken.
A joint report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) examined the future impact of AI on employment across the Arab region, including Morocco, with projections extending to 2035.
According to the report, AI-driven automation is expected to reduce employment in several routine professions, particularly administrative and retail jobs.
In Morocco, the positions most exposed include data entry workers, cashiers, and office employees whose tasks involve little decision-making.
The report also noted that nearly a quarter of professions worldwide are vulnerable to the effects of generative AI. Women could face greater risks because they are heavily represented in clerical and administrative jobs that are easier to automate.
Without corrective policies, the report warned, the gender gap in employment may widen further in the coming years.
Jobs at risk and sectors facing transformation
At the same time, the study pointed to sectors where employment is likely to grow.
Education is expected to create new teaching positions, while healthcare, management, technology, and engineering-related fields could see strong demand.
For Morocco, this means that skills linked to mathematics, computer science, engineering, and digital systems will become increasingly important.
Transport and logistics are also projected to benefit from AI-related investments, especially through the expansion of digital infrastructure and urban modernization projects.
Morocco’s industrial zones and major ports could place the country in a favorable position to benefit from this transformation.
The report highlighted that young people between the ages of 15 and 24 are better positioned to adapt to the AI economy because of their stronger digital familiarity and ability to adjust to new technologies.
However, it warned that high levels of unemployment and inactivity among youth remain a serious structural challenge across the region.
In Morocco, around one in three young people aged between 15 and 29 are classified as not being in employment, education, or training, according to figures from the High Commission for Planning (HCP).
The situation is particularly difficult among young women.
The report warned that without urgent reforms, many Moroccan youths could miss emerging opportunities linked to AI and the digital economy.
Older workers, particularly those aged 55 and above, were identified as the group most threatened by exclusion.
The report explained that limited access to retraining programs and the short period remaining before retirement often discourage investment in new skills.
In Morocco, where informal employment remains widespread and unemployment protection is limited, the risks are even greater for older low-skilled workers.
SMEs and policy response to prevent inequality
The report also focused on the role of small and medium-sized enterprises.
In Morocco, these businesses represent the overwhelming majority of the country’s economic fabric.
The study argued that AI could help improve productivity through predictive accounting tools, automated marketing systems, and inventory management solutions.
However, it stressed that many businesses still lack the digital infrastructure and technological readiness needed to benefit from these changes.
Without public support and digital modernization, the report warned, the gap could widen between companies prepared for AI and those that remain under-equipped or informal.
To prevent AI from becoming a source of greater inequality, the UN agencies proposed several priority measures.
These include the creation of a national support fund for workers displaced by automation, the establishment of specialized observatories to monitor the labor market every six months, and urgent reforms to education programs to better match the needs of employers in AI-related fields.
The report also recommended public subsidies for AI training within small businesses and stronger protections for informal workers.
One proposal suggested using AI-powered digital platforms to help informal workers build transaction histories that could eventually provide access to banking services and social protection.
The report concluded that the coming years will be decisive for Morocco.
Without targeted policies, AI could deepen existing inequalities and leave vulnerable workers behind.
But with proper investment in education, training, and digital infrastructure, the technology could instead become a major driver of economic opportunity and job creation.
According to the study, the decisions made between 2026 and 2027 may ultimately determine whether artificial intelligence becomes a tool for inclusion and growth or a source of greater economic insecurity in Morocco.
