Over a Million More Unemployed
27 May 2015
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Despite a 2.9% decrease in the number of unemployed in the first quarter of 2015.
Unemployment reduction in the first quarter of 2015. The number of unemployed people decreased sharply in the first month of the year. The situation at the end of March reveals a 2.9% decrease nationwide. Thus, in the first quarter of 2015, Morocco had around 1,157,000 unemployed people, compared to 1,191,000 a year earlier. The 34,000 fewer unemployed people are mainly from rural areas.
This area saw a decrease of 22,000 unemployed people by the end of March, compared to 12,000 in urban areas. Following this observation made by the High Commission for Planning, the national unemployment rate stands at 9.9%, compared to 10.2% in the same quarter of 2014.
The proportion of unemployment in urban areas stands at 14.3%, while it does not exceed 4.7% in rural areas. Detailing the characteristics of unemployment in Morocco, the High Commission for Planning indicates that 78.1% of the unemployed recorded in the first quarter of 2015 are city dwellers. Also, 62.9% of the unemployed active population is aged 15 to 29 years. The statistics also show that 27.6% of the unemployed hold a higher education diploma, while 49.7% are first-time job seekers.
Similarly, 61.4% of the unemployed have been inactive for more than a year, while 24.8% are in this situation following a layoff or a cessation of activity by the employer. In addition, the unemployed active population includes people discouraged by the active search for employment. This number is around 47,000 people, thus increasing from 3.6% to 4.1% of the overall volume of unemployment in the first quarter of 2015.
The labor market situation at the end of March also reveals a slight decrease in the employment rate. The Moroccan economy created 27,000 net jobs during this period. This is the result of the creation of 45,000 jobs in urban areas and the loss of 18,000 in rural areas. The overall volume of employment is around 10,513,000 people, compared to 10,486,000 in the same quarter of the previous year. The same period saw the creation of 58,000 paid jobs, including 49,000 in urban areas and 9,000 in rural areas.
The High Commission for Planning indicates that unpaid employment, composed of about 98% of family helpers, decreased by 31,000 jobs, i.e., 4,000 in urban areas and 27,000 in rural areas. The employment rate, for its part, went from 42.9% to 42.3% in the first three months of the year. In urban areas, this rate was around 35.6%, compared to 36% a year earlier. The employment rate in rural areas is around 52.9%, down from its level in the first quarter of 2014.
The activity rate also decreased. It went from 47.7% to 47% in one year. The decrease was observed in the active population aged 15 and over. The latter reached 11,670,000 people during the first three months of the year. The active population aged 15 and over slightly decreased. The working-age population, on the other hand, increased by 1.5%.
Underemployment: Over a Million Moroccans Affected
The situation of underemployment in Morocco is constantly evolving. The number of employed people in underemployment improved, reaching 1,040,000 people, compared to 975,000 people observed in the first quarter of the year. Nationally, the underemployment rate increased from 9.5% to 9.9% in one year.
In urban areas, this rate rose to 9.3%, compared to 9.1% observed in the same period of the previous year. Underemployment in rural areas stood at 10.5%, compared to 9.9%. People working in the construction industry are the most affected by this phenomenon. This community shows an underemployment rate of 16.6%. This observation, according to the High Commission for Planning, is made in both urban and rural areas. People working in the "Agriculture, forestry and fishing" sector come second with 10%.
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Posted online May 27, 2015.
Unemployment reduction in the first quarter of 2015. The number of unemployed people decreased sharply in the first month of the year. The situation at the end of March reveals a 2.9% decrease nationwide. Thus, in the first quarter of 2015, Morocco had around 1,157,000 unemployed people, compared to 1,191,000 a year earlier. The 34,000 fewer unemployed people are mainly from rural areas.
This area saw a decrease of 22,000 unemployed people by the end of March, compared to 12,000 in urban areas. Following this observation made by the High Commission for Planning, the national unemployment rate stands at 9.9%, compared to 10.2% in the same quarter of 2014.
The proportion of unemployment in urban areas stands at 14.3%, while it does not exceed 4.7% in rural areas. Detailing the characteristics of unemployment in Morocco, the High Commission for Planning indicates that 78.1% of the unemployed recorded in the first quarter of 2015 are city dwellers. Also, 62.9% of the unemployed active population is aged 15 to 29 years. The statistics also show that 27.6% of the unemployed hold a higher education diploma, while 49.7% are first-time job seekers.
Similarly, 61.4% of the unemployed have been inactive for more than a year, while 24.8% are in this situation following a layoff or a cessation of activity by the employer. In addition, the unemployed active population includes people discouraged by the active search for employment. This number is around 47,000 people, thus increasing from 3.6% to 4.1% of the overall volume of unemployment in the first quarter of 2015.
The labor market situation at the end of March also reveals a slight decrease in the employment rate. The Moroccan economy created 27,000 net jobs during this period. This is the result of the creation of 45,000 jobs in urban areas and the loss of 18,000 in rural areas. The overall volume of employment is around 10,513,000 people, compared to 10,486,000 in the same quarter of the previous year. The same period saw the creation of 58,000 paid jobs, including 49,000 in urban areas and 9,000 in rural areas.
The High Commission for Planning indicates that unpaid employment, composed of about 98% of family helpers, decreased by 31,000 jobs, i.e., 4,000 in urban areas and 27,000 in rural areas. The employment rate, for its part, went from 42.9% to 42.3% in the first three months of the year. In urban areas, this rate was around 35.6%, compared to 36% a year earlier. The employment rate in rural areas is around 52.9%, down from its level in the first quarter of 2014.
The activity rate also decreased. It went from 47.7% to 47% in one year. The decrease was observed in the active population aged 15 and over. The latter reached 11,670,000 people during the first three months of the year. The active population aged 15 and over slightly decreased. The working-age population, on the other hand, increased by 1.5%.
Underemployment: Over a Million Moroccans Affected
The situation of underemployment in Morocco is constantly evolving. The number of employed people in underemployment improved, reaching 1,040,000 people, compared to 975,000 people observed in the first quarter of the year. Nationally, the underemployment rate increased from 9.5% to 9.9% in one year.
In urban areas, this rate rose to 9.3%, compared to 9.1% observed in the same period of the previous year. Underemployment in rural areas stood at 10.5%, compared to 9.9%. People working in the construction industry are the most affected by this phenomenon. This community shows an underemployment rate of 16.6%. This observation, according to the High Commission for Planning, is made in both urban and rural areas. People working in the "Agriculture, forestry and fishing" sector come second with 10%.
Read the rest of the article.
Posted online May 27, 2015.
