Morroco’s historically high unemployment
Morocco had a demographic population explosion in the 70’s and 80’s caused by in a high birth rate and one of the results was high unemployment.Many Moroccans sought to leave Morocco for Europe and other destinations.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Morroco-s-histo...
The problem was highlighted by a conference in Marrakech towards the end of Hassan II’s reign which noted for the first time that Moroccan youth risked being excluded from society because of unemployment.
Youth emigration continues as many young newly qualified Moroccans tend to seek work abroad as a recent survey remarked. Morocco is not alone, the same phenomenon can be noted in Tunisia and Algeria. Youth unemployment in the region predates the economic crisis which began in 2008.
When Inger Andersen, the World Bank vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, said last week that unemployment in Morocco is ” a very serious problem”, and that 30% of the population aged 15-29 (44% of the active workforce) was unemployed , she was stating a well known fact. More seriously she pointed to the long term unemployed who have given up looking for work which is something that is seen all over Europe in the current economic crisis.
Successive Moroccan governments have made serious efforts to combat youth unemployment and the development of industries such as the automotive, aeronautic and IT offshoring industries have considerably increased Morocco’s export capacitynd created jobs – but not enough.
Similarly the tourism industry has grown dramatically but it’s capacity to create jobs is as yet , never enough to make a significant dent in the overall high unemployment figures. The private sector needs to grow.
When the economic crisis turns the corner and growth returns as the International Labour Organisation in 2015 or 16 will Morocco be able to generate the jobs needed?
Ever since 1992 the World Bank and others have highlighted the gap between rich and poor in Morocco. This remains a key issue, Morocco’s middle class creates wealth but that wealth is not spread amongst the majority of the population. His majesty King Mohammed VI highlighted the need for a new educational emphasis on learning and questioning rather than cramming and a need for young Moroccans to be able to generate their own wealth as entrepreneurs. This is surely and important initiative as a weakened public sector can no longer act as an employment generator. Self reliance and the liberty to pursue a career path is an important element in survival during a recession.
This perhaps means some changes in the way in which traditional Moroccan society is organised giving greater liberty to the young instead of an unquestioning obedience.
Other factors such as the shift of rural populations into the cities needs to be reversed and if the Green Plan can help achieve this it will be an important contribution to Morocco’s future stability . It is natural to concentrate on unemployed graduates but the unemployed and less educated also need support and encouragement.
The prospect of a generation of young people being unemployable because of a lack of work experience and job orientated education is now a european reality as developed societies have failed their young people, such is the corrosive effect of a long term depression. Moroccan society still has a national social cohesiveness and strong family ties less evident now in Europe.This should help to mobilise a national effort to encourage new l efforts to reducate the young to find new employment opportunities.
The main hope must be that a day will come when young Moroccans never again have to resort to leaving their country to find their future
Youth emigration continues as many young newly qualified Moroccans tend to seek work abroad as a recent survey remarked. Morocco is not alone, the same phenomenon can be noted in Tunisia and Algeria. Youth unemployment in the region predates the economic crisis which began in 2008.
When Inger Andersen, the World Bank vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, said last week that unemployment in Morocco is ” a very serious problem”, and that 30% of the population aged 15-29 (44% of the active workforce) was unemployed , she was stating a well known fact. More seriously she pointed to the long term unemployed who have given up looking for work which is something that is seen all over Europe in the current economic crisis.
Successive Moroccan governments have made serious efforts to combat youth unemployment and the development of industries such as the automotive, aeronautic and IT offshoring industries have considerably increased Morocco’s export capacitynd created jobs – but not enough.
Similarly the tourism industry has grown dramatically but it’s capacity to create jobs is as yet , never enough to make a significant dent in the overall high unemployment figures. The private sector needs to grow.
When the economic crisis turns the corner and growth returns as the International Labour Organisation in 2015 or 16 will Morocco be able to generate the jobs needed?
Ever since 1992 the World Bank and others have highlighted the gap between rich and poor in Morocco. This remains a key issue, Morocco’s middle class creates wealth but that wealth is not spread amongst the majority of the population. His majesty King Mohammed VI highlighted the need for a new educational emphasis on learning and questioning rather than cramming and a need for young Moroccans to be able to generate their own wealth as entrepreneurs. This is surely and important initiative as a weakened public sector can no longer act as an employment generator. Self reliance and the liberty to pursue a career path is an important element in survival during a recession.
This perhaps means some changes in the way in which traditional Moroccan society is organised giving greater liberty to the young instead of an unquestioning obedience.
Other factors such as the shift of rural populations into the cities needs to be reversed and if the Green Plan can help achieve this it will be an important contribution to Morocco’s future stability . It is natural to concentrate on unemployed graduates but the unemployed and less educated also need support and encouragement.
The prospect of a generation of young people being unemployable because of a lack of work experience and job orientated education is now a european reality as developed societies have failed their young people, such is the corrosive effect of a long term depression. Moroccan society still has a national social cohesiveness and strong family ties less evident now in Europe.This should help to mobilise a national effort to encourage new l efforts to reducate the young to find new employment opportunities.
The main hope must be that a day will come when young Moroccans never again have to resort to leaving their country to find their future
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Morroco-s-histo...