Morocco recorded an increase of 279,000 paid jobs during the second quarter of 2026, bringing the total number of people in paid employment to 10.643 million, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP).
The quarterly increase represents a 2.7% rise compared with the first quarter of the year. Of the new paid jobs created, 187,000 were in urban areas and 92,000 in rural areas.
Overall, 61.9% of paid workers were based in urban areas, while women accounted for 20.3% of all paid employment, the HCP said.
The national paid employment rate reached 38.2% during the second quarter, up from 37.3% in the previous quarter. The rate stood at 36.3% in urban areas and 41.6% in rural areas. By gender, the employment rate was 61.1% for men, compared with 15.4% for women.
Workers aged 35 to 44 recorded the highest paid employment rate at 54.4%, followed by those aged 25 to 34 at 48.6%. Young people aged 15 to 24 had the lowest rate, at 16.6%.
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Employment rates also varied by education level. People with higher education qualifications recorded the highest rate at 57.8%, followed by holders of intermediate qualifications (38.9%). Those without any formal qualification recorded a rate of 36.7%, while people with basic education qualifications had the lowest rate among educational groups, at 34.7%.
The HCP also reported that Morocco’s labour force—which includes both employed people and those unemployed under the official definition—reached 11.764 million in the second quarter, an increase of 147,000 people compared with the first quarter.
The labour force participation rate rose to 42.2%, from 41.8% in the previous quarter. It reached 41.2% in urban areas and 44% in rural areas. Participation remained significantly higher among men (66.5%) than women (18.1%).
By age group, labour force participation was highest among people aged 35 to 44 (57.7%) and 25 to 34 (56.8%), while those aged 15 to 24 recorded the lowest participation rate at 22.9%.
The HCP noted that the figures are based on its new EMO2026 Labour Force Survey, which uses updated statistical concepts and methodology. As a result, the data should not be directly compared with results from the previous National Employment Survey. Instead, comparisons should be made with the revised historical indicators published by the HCP using the new methodology.
