
Morocco Revamps Employment Strategy with Dual Focus Approach
New employment roadmap targets both supply and demand
Sekkouri announced the plan during the oral question session on employment policy in the House of Representatives. He explained that while previous approaches primarily focused on job seeker training, the new roadmap addresses both sides of the labor equation.
The government's new vision expands beyond preparing job seekers to include creating more employment opportunities across productive sectors.
Inter-ministerial oversight strengthens accountability
To ensure effective implementation of the new employment strategy, the government has established an inter-ministerial committee dedicated to monitoring job creation across all sectors. This new oversight mechanism introduces unprecedented accountability.
Sekkouri noted that every sector now faces specific employment targets and will be held responsible for job losses within their domain, pointing to the government's commitment to measurable results.
Major financial support packages for businesses
Also, the minister spoke of the financial support that the government is allocating to the implementation of this new employment strategy.
MAD 15 billion for SME investment
To support small and medium businesses (SME), the government has allocated a budget of MAD 15 billion ($1.62 million). A special decree indicates, according to Sekkouri, that this funding targets investments between MAD 1 and 50 million (between $108,375 and 5.41 million).
For these SME to receive the financial support, the government has set a critical condition they should meet, which is being able to create quality jobs within the Moroccan economy.
Expanded support for micro-entrepreneurs
Over 110,000 very small businesses and auto-entrepreneurs will benefit from a tailored support program. Unlike previous initiatives that focused solely on major capital expenditures, this program covers operational costs, including equipment rental, employee wages, and essential equipment purchases
Enhancing job seeker integration programs
Professional apprenticeship expansion
The government aims to quadruple the number of professional apprenticeships, increasing beneficiaries from 24,000 to 100,000. The minister announced that this initiative comes with MAD 500 million in financial backing.
ANAPEC reform to target vulnerable groups
Morocco's Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills is undergoing a comprehensive reform to better serve job seekers who do not hold academic qualifications.
Sekkouri recalled the findings of the Higher Commission for Planning's (HCP) recent report, which identified 910,000 unemployed individuals without certifications, adding that the government has developed specialized programs for this vulnerable group.
Morocco's recent employment data
According to a recent report from HCP, Morocco's unemployment rate has seen a slight decrease in the first quarter of 2025, moving from 13.7% to 13.3%.
The Moroccan economy created 282,000 jobs during this period, making a significant turnaround from losing 80,000 positions last year.
Data in the HCP's report signals that the North African country is moving with its economic recovery and job market resilience. Tags: Employmentemployment in Moroccojobs in Morocco
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Morocco World
24 minutes ago
- Morocco World
Morocco Signs Landmark $3.7 Billion Deal to Upgrade Airports, Boost Aviation Sector
Rabat — The head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, officially signed today a strategic agreement with the National Airports Authority (ONDA) to invest MAD 38 billion ($3.7 billion) over five years in Morocco's airport infrastructure . This ambitious plan focuses on expanding and modernizing key airports in Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, and Fez. A centerpiece of the project is the construction of a new international air terminal designed to serve as a major regional hub, alongside the addition of a new runway at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca. These upgrades alone represent an investment of MAD 25 billion ($2.5 billion). The remaining MAD 13 billion (1.3 billion) will be allocated for maintenance, modernization, and land acquisition, ensuring the long-term operational flexibility and sustainability of the airport network. Prime Minister Akhannouch emphasized the significance of the agreement in advancing Morocco's broader developmental goals and positioning the country as a regional aviation leader. 'Thanks to the visionary leadership of His Majesty the King, this deal will reinforce Morocco's status as a key international aviation hub,' he said. The upgraded infrastructure is expected to stimulate economic growth, enhance regional integration, and promote social cohesion across the country. Read also: Morocco's Airport Authority Restructures Leadership to Advance 2030 Strategy This investment is fully aligned with ONDA's strategic 'Airports 2030' vision, which aims to accommodate increasing air traffic and support the expansion plans of Royal Air Maroc , Morocco's national airline. The improvements come as Morocco prepares to host the FIFA World Cup and looks beyond 2030 toward sustained economic development. In a related announcement, Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh previously revealed that Morocco has launched a MAD 28 billion ($2.8 billion) investment program under the ' Airports 2030' strategy, targeting a doubling of passenger capacity to 80 million by 2030. A key element of this program is the construction of a new airport in Casablanca on an 800-hectare site adjacent to the existing Mohammed V Airport. This new facility alone will handle 40 million passengers and serve as a gateway to long-haul destinations requiring flights of over eight hours. 'This program primarily involves building a new airport in Casablanca, following Royal directives, to strengthen Morocco's connections with the rest of the world, especially more distant countries,' Kayouh told the Chamber of Representatives during a parliamentary session. The signing ceremony was attended by ministers responsible for tourism, transport, and budget, alongside senior officials from ONDA and the National Agency for Strategic Management of State Contributions and Monitoring of Public Institutions and Enterprises. This agreement marks a critical milestone in Morocco's efforts to modernize its aviation sector, emphasizing innovation, service excellence, and sustainable development as the pillars of its future growth. Tags: Airports 2030aviation morocco


Morocco World
an hour ago
- Morocco World
Is Morocco Becoming Europe's Backyard? Engineers Earn €1,500 vs €6,500
Marrakech – Morocco's Industry and Trade Minister, Ryad Mezzour, sparked controversy in mid-July when he presented the significant wage gap between Moroccan and European engineers as a strategic advantage during an official meeting at the German ambassador's residence in Rabat. Mezzour revealed that the same highly skilled Moroccan engineer who would cost a company in Germany about €6,500 monthly can be hired in Morocco for just €1,000 to €1,500. The minister described this stark disparity as an opportunity for foreign companies while suggesting engineers would be 'much happier' living in their home country with these wages. 'An engineer who graduates with distinction and goes to work in Munich will cost the company about €6,500 per month between salary and social contributions,' Mezzour stated. He added that the same engineer could be employed in Morocco for between €1,000 and €1,500 for identical work, expressing his belief that 'the engineer will live much happier in his country with a salary that allows him to own an apartment and start a family life.' Human outsourcing Economic analysts told Morocco World News (MWN) that this wage gap raises fundamental questions about the country's development strategy and its role in global value chains. Rather than developing technology or products, Morocco appears to be positioning itself as an exporter of affordable brainpower for multinational companies. While official discourse frames this as 'providing solutions,' critics view it as a form of human outsourcing. The minister also acknowledged that Morocco's economy cannot currently absorb all its trained talent, pushing many skilled Moroccans to seek opportunities abroad. Instead of rethinking the development model to retain these professionals, the government has doubled the number of medical graduates and increased engineering graduates tenfold to produce more exportable talent. 'We used to train 1,500 doctors annually, but 800 of them were recruited each year, especially to Germany,' Mezzour said, continuing that German universities would recruit entire classes of engineers before graduation. Mezzour described these young graduates as 'hungry' to integrate into life and create a future for themselves, insisting they represent 'a tremendous force for those who deal with them respectfully and within a balanced partnership framework that ensures contribution to their valorization within Morocco.' Beyond 'cheaper is better' for sustainable growth Mohammed Afzaz, a Qatar-based Moroccan economic analyst, told MWN that betting solely on the wage gap to attract foreign investment may backfire for the kingdom in the long run. 'Morocco's bet on the 'cheaper is better' principle to attract foreign investments may not be the most suitable wager for the kingdom amid strong competition from other Arab and Asian countries that adopt the same strategy,' Afzaz explained. He cited Vietnam and Bangladesh as countries that tried this model before concluding they needed to support innovation rather than simply being open territory for mobile capital. For Morocco to retain its high-caliber talent, Afzaz suggested a five-point strategy: achieving fair wages with growth guarantees, enabling continuous training opportunities at home and abroad, investing heavily in research and development, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship rather than turning engineers into 'stagnant employees and numbers among other numbers,' and providing social and health protection for professionals and their families. 'Morocco in this critical period of its rising development project needs its competencies to play a central role in leading the desired economic takeoff,' Afzaz stressed, though he acknowledged that preventing talent migration entirely would be impossible given global market demands. Afzaz pointed out that the global context presents unique challenges, adding: 'Trump's ongoing trade wars' and persistently 'high inflation levels no longer exempt any country in the world.' He warned that 'if wages do not move to keep pace with rising prices, purchasing power gradually declines.' Cultural factors offset wage disparities Contributing to the discussion, economist and Director of the Government Work Observatory Mohammed Jadri spoke to MWN about several structural factors he believes help explain why the wage gap hasn't triggered a full-blown talent exodus. 'The lifestyle and cultural attachment: A significant portion of Moroccan engineers prioritize family stability, cultural proximity, and quality of life that the country can offer, especially in major cities like Casablanca, Rabat, or Tangier,' Jadri said. He pointed to growing local opportunities thanks to industrial strategies launched since 2014, the relatively lower cost of living, and government policies encouraging training and professional integration as factors helping Morocco maintain its talent pool. Jadri specifically mentioned the Industrial Acceleration Plan launched in 2014 and continued by the current ministry, which has created interesting prospects in several sectors, including 'automotive, aeronautics, electronics, and offshoring' that offer career advancement and specialization opportunities. He also underlined the role of government training initiatives through OFPPT (Office of Professional Training and Work Promotion), the Cités des Métiers et des Compétences (CMC), and ANAPEC employment contracts in structuring a skills pipeline aligned with industrial needs, which strengthens local employability. Jadri characterized the wage gap not as social dumping but as an acknowledged comparative advantage in Morocco's strategy. 'Morocco positions itself as an intermediate alternative between low-cost countries like Bangladesh or Ethiopia and European countries. For multinationals, it's an opportunity to optimize costs without compromising quality,' he stated. 'Morocco does not practice a race to the bottom,' Jadri insisted. 'The minimum wage (SMIG) is regularly revalued, collective agreements are developing in certain industrial zones, and mechanisms for social dialogue exist.' Looking forward, Jadri argued this cost differential is only sustainable if accompanied by structural transformation of Morocco's industrial fabric. 'The simple cost advantage will eventually erode with rising social and wage demands,' he went on to say. 'It is therefore necessary to invest in continuing education and technical and scientific fields, promote R&D partnerships between industrialists and Moroccan research centers, strengthen the ecosystem of industrial and deep tech startups, and integrate global value chains at a higher level,' he concluded. International integration will drive wage growth Offering a critical perspective, economist and researcher at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Zakaria Firano explained to MWN that Morocco's current level of human capital remains average by global standards, leaving substantial room for improvement. 'Morocco is situated in terms of human capital in the world average, according to the World Bank index, at a level of 0.5 to 0.55, which means that the qualification of Moroccan human capital remains average compared to different countries of the world,' Firano observed. This moderate productivity level partly explains the salary gap with European counterparts. Firano provided concrete examples to illustrate this point: 'We are in the industrial sector always at a level of contribution to added value to gross domestic products around 28% to 29%.' For him, 'this means that any improvement in human capital in the medium and long term will allow the industrial sector to reach the objective we want, which is to reach more than 40% of added value, not only in terms of quantity but also in terms of quality and also in terms of quality competitiveness internationally.' Firano linked the salary differential to productivity gaps, remarking that 'in European and developed countries, [highly qualified human capital] remains a bit more important than what we find here in Morocco.' To reduce this gap, he argued Morocco must raise both the level of human capital and its contribution to added value, especially in industrial and service sectors. Comparing minimum wages across countries, Firano stated: 'If we take a minimum wage, we will simply compare it with Spain, it's around 300 euros in Morocco compared to more than 1,084 in Spain,' adding that the minimum found in countries with relatively low minimum wages in Europe, 'like Croatia, Poland, etc., is double, triple what we find, triple the minimum wage in Morocco.' On the sustainability question, Firano gave a firm 'probably not' to whether the wage differential can persist long-term. 'We cannot have a certain sustainability through salary attractiveness if we are in an economy that is beginning to integrate internationally,' he stated. With Morocco's international integration level around 65% and continuing to open up, prices will increasingly align with international levels. 'The obligation to converge with new international professions in technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence will require increased qualification and human capital,' Firano added. This human capital improvement will generate higher added value and productivity, inevitably leading to higher wages. Young talents seek fulfillment beyond salary Weighing in on the debate, economist and academic Mohammed Chiguer shared with MWN that salary isn't the decisive factor behind brain drain decisions, and put it bluntly: 'Moroccans flee their country, but French people also flee their countries.' 'I believe that the minister's statement is simply to support the movement observed for some time, the return of Moroccan talents who even resided in France,' Chiguer said. He pointed to many Moroccan professionals born and educated in France who have chosen to settle in Morocco, with Casablanca serving as a vital platform for those wishing to work with Africa. Chiguer placed the situation in its international context, particularly considering Europe's employment challenges. 'France is experiencing problems in this area. In fact, the unemployment rate for graduates is beginning to worry them,' he asserted. According to Chiguer, young talents seek self-fulfillment through multiple channels. 'The main reason for brain drain or the return of brains is that young people seek to realize themselves not only through a more or less high salary but also through other conditions,' he clarified, referencing Morocco's efforts to establish itself as a true African hub. 'It's a question that really needs to be placed in its context and take into consideration the international situation, take into consideration the situation in Europe in particular and in France more particularly,' Chiguer concluded. Read also: Morocco's Auto Labor Cost: Just $106 Per Vehicle Tags: Moroccan EngineersRyad Mezzourwages


Ya Biladi
an hour ago
- Ya Biladi
Stellantis unveils FIAT TRIS, the three-wheeled electric vehicle manufactured in Morocco
The fully electric FIAT TRIS will be manufactured in Morocco by Stellantis, adhering to international safety standards. Announced jointly by the Moroccan government and the automaker, the project targets the professional mobility needs of urban and peri-urban areas. The vehicle will be produced at Stellantis' Kenitra plant, with a projected annual capacity of 65,000 units and potential for export across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, according to a statement received by Yabiladi. The new model represents a next generation of compact, sustainable, and affordable vehicles. Following the successful launches of the Citroën Ami, Opel Rocks-e, and Fiat Topolino micromobility models, Stellantis is now expanding its lineup with the FIAT TRIS. «FIAT TRIS democratizes access to professional mobility for millions of workers, artisans, and entrepreneurs, establishing itself as a catalyst for economic and social opportunities across the continent», said Samir Cherfan, Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis Middle East and Africa. Production officially began in July 2025 at the Kenitra plant, boosting the site's total micromobility output to 135,000 units per year. The project also draws on the expertise of the Stellantis Automotive Technical Center (ATC) in Casablanca, which employs more than 4,000 engineers and senior technicians. The initiative reinforces Morocco's position as a regional hub for sustainable and inclusive mobility solutions, backed by a mature and growing industrial ecosystem.