Rabat – 7 out of 10 young Moroccans wish to migrate abroad, according to a report by the National Human Development Observatory (ONDH) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The number puts Morocco at the top of the list in the Arab world.
The report, titled “Being Young in Morocco in Our Days,” details various socio-economic and political issues facing Morocco’s youth nowadays.
Nearly 70% of young Moroccans who responded to the survey expect a significant increase in their happiness should they end up immigrating.
Furthermore, young Moroccans seem more hesitant to marry and start families. The number that expressed reluctance to marry rose to 70% in 2019.
The respondents’ opinions regarding gender equality in fields like education and employment were also inconsistent. 83% agreed that more measures should be taken to ensure it in education, while only 30% expressed the same opinions regarding employment.
The report attributes the numbers to the youth’s disproportionate exposure to social, political, and economic challenges in Morocco, pushing them to desire pursuing a better life abroad.
The report calls the younger generations the most valuable human capital and praises their educational and entrepreneurial chops, questioning the ability of political and civil spaces to attract them.
The ONDH and UNDP’s report also details a “confused and contradictory” sense of identity among this demographic, with self-identifications varying between Amazigh, Arab, Muslim, and even Mediterranean.
The two organizations outlined various policy proposals to make Morocco more appealing for younger people, focusing on leadership reform to accommodate their demands better, changes in training and social protection, and affording young people more cultural and creative outlets.
The report comes as Moroccan authorities pledge to improve the conditions of young people in the country. The country’s new development model intends to put the focus on younger generations, and the newly elected government has revealed plans to invest in youth centers and the gaming industry to empower younger generations of Moroccans.
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