Unemployment rate in Morocco rises to 10.5% during the first quarter of 2020

The unemployment rate in Morocco rose to 10.5% in the first quarter of 2020 against 9.1% in the same period a year earlier, according to the High Planning Commission (HCP).

The number of unemployed people increased by 208,000 (165,000 in urban areas and 43,000 in rural areas), the unemployed labour force increased from 1.084.000 to 1.292.000 between the first quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, the source added.

The unemployment rate rose from 13.3% to 15.1% in urban areas and from 3.1% to 3.9% in rural areas, it added.

The most significant increases were registered among young people aged between 15 and 24 (3.9 points), people aged 25 to 34 (2.3 points), people with a diploma (1.9 point) and men (1,6 point).

The highest rates were reported among women (14.3% compared to 9.3% for men), young people aged between 15 and 24 (26.8% against 8.2% among people aged 25 and over) and people with a diploma (17.8% compared to 3.6% among people with no diploma).

Half of the unemployed (50.7%) are looking for their first job (44.4% among men and 63% among women), while two-thirds of unemployed people (66.1%) have been without a job for a year or more (62.1% among men and 74% among women).