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Ya Biladi
28-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Moroccan women at the margins of the informal sector
In Morocco, the proportion of households owning an informal production unit (IPU) remains notably significant. Over nearly a decade, from 2014 to 2023, this figure has only slightly decreased—from 15.5% to 14.3%—both in urban areas (from 17.2% to 15.6%) and rural areas (from 12.8% to 11%). In its National Survey on the sector published this Wednesday, the High Commission for Planning (HCP) highlights that economic necessity remains the primary reason for engaging in this activity in 68.3% of cases, especially among women. Meanwhile, 31.7% of IPU owners cite preference or family tradition as their motivation. Before creating their IPU, 78.8% of heads were already economically active, primarily in construction (81.4%). However, there are significant gender gaps: 82.3% of men were employed compared to just 36.1% of women, the report notes. Nearly 60% of IPU heads are former employees. Additionally, 38.3% of women had previously owned another IPU as independents, compared to 27.6% of men. The HCP further observes that women enter the informal sector out of necessity more often than men—71.9% versus 65.1%. Notably, 44% of women were inactive before starting their IPU, compared to only 7.1% of men. Thus, the informal sector often serves as a first entry point into the labor market for many women, although it does not always lead to formal employment. According to the report, the share of women coming from unemployment (19.8%) is nearly double that of men (10.6%), «reflecting a more frequent recourse by women to informal self-employment as an alternative to professional exclusion». This gendered analysis also reveals that women rely less on self-financing and more on alternative funding sources such as inheritance, aid, or donations, reflecting lower financial autonomy when establishing their unit. In the sector, 30% of women struggle more than men to balance their professional and personal lives—compared to only 8.1% of men. The report calls this «a major challenge for women's autonomy and professional fulfillment», with these constraints compounded by limited access to bank credit. Within this ecosystem, only 2.1% of IPU heads have a dedicated bank account for their activity. A precarious alternative to total inactivity The report underscores persistent gender disparities in decision-making autonomy and work-family balance within IPUs. It highlights differences in income management autonomy, where men (96.4%) slightly outperform women (94.7%). Decision-making patterns reveal further disparities: nearly half of women (43.4%) share decisions with their spouse, compared to 31.3% of men. Conversely, 19% of men report making decisions with a partner, against only 10.2% of women. Regarding professional status before creating an IPU, the survey notes that most heads were employees (59.5%), followed by independents (28%). Yet, more women had previously worked as independents (38.3% vs. 27.6%), while men were more often employees (59.8% vs. 51.4%). At the national level, the HCP notes that households led by men have a higher IPU ownership rate (16.1%) than those led by women (5.4%). In urban areas, 18% of male-led households own an IPU, compared to 6.1% of female-led ones. This gap widens in rural areas—12% versus 2.7%. Moreover, heads aged 35 to 59 are more likely to own an IPU (17.1%), with men constituting the vast majority (92.4%) of IPU leaders. Women are nearly absent in the construction sector, managing only 5.2% of IPUs in commerce and 8.2% in services. They are most represented in industry, with 20.9%, according to the HCP. These figures are revealing in a context where female employment loss remains high. In rural areas, this loss is estimated to reduce GDP by nearly 2.2%. While over 80% of women nationally are economically inactive and only 19% hold a job, the HCP has recommended targeted empowerment measures to recognize the «essential but often invisible» contributions of female workers, especially in rural zones. In 2023, informal sector employment accounted for 33.1% of non-agricultural jobs. The downward trend is seen in industry (from 37.2% to 29.3%) and services (21.5% to 20.6%), alongside increases in trade (68.5% to 69.8%) and construction (21.4% to 25.3%). In absolute numbers, informal employment grew from 2.37 million to 2.53 million over this period, adding 157,000 jobs.
Morocco World
19-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
‘It's Over': Nizar Baraka Concedes Government Failure on Million-Job Commitment
Doha – Nizar Baraka, Secretary General of the Istiqlal Party and Minister of Equipment and Water, acknowledged the government's failure to meet its major commitment of creating one million jobs by 2026. 'It's over, we cannot create one million jobs by 2026. We tell the truth to Moroccans,' Baraka declared Saturday during his party's national council meeting in Salé. Despite this admission, Baraka pointed to positive employment trends in early 2025. The first quarter saw the creation of 180,000 net jobs, compared to a loss of 80,000 positions during the same period last year. Baraka attributed this improvement to increased public investment, which reached MAD 340 billion ($34 billion) this year, up from MAD 220 billion ($22 billion) in 2020. His ministry's investment budget alone jumped from MAD 40 billion ($4 billion) to MAD 70 billion ($7 billion). Addressing price increases, Baraka condemned what he called 'inflationary greed' among some traders and speculators. 'We face non-citizen behaviors from people who have exploited the inflationary context to raise commercial margins and make excessive profits at the expense of citizens… and this, we will not accept,' he asserted. The minister called for maintaining unity within the government coalition. He warned that premature competition for first place in upcoming elections could harm government performance and citizens' interests. The Akhannouch government's term has been marked more by job losses than gains. According to the High Commission for Planning (HCP), 432,000 jobs were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, while 230,000 were created in 2021. The Moroccan economy lost 24,000 jobs in 2022 and destroyed 157,000 positions in 2023. In January, Baraka had painted a concerning picture of Morocco's employment situation. He cited youth unemployment at 39.5%, overall unemployment at 21.3%, and women's unemployment at 29.6%. 'Our country's youth have objective and legitimate reasons to feel anxious about the future and fears about uncertainty,' Baraka stated during a national event commemorating the 81st anniversary of Morocco's Independence Manifesto. Tags: Aziz AkhannouchNizar BarakaUnemployment in Morocco
Ya Biladi
07-05-2025
- General
- Ya Biladi
Morocco : 30 years after the first edition, the HCP launches the National Family Survey
مدة القراءة: 1' Thirty years after its first edition in 1995, the High Commission for Planning (HCP) is launching the data collection phase of the National Family Survey 2025, which will be conducted in the field until the end of September this year. According to a statement, the process involves «a sample of 14,000 households, representative of both urban and rural areas as well as all regions» of the country. The aim is to gather data «on the structure, organization, and dynamics of Moroccan families» to «better understand the transformations» and assess their effects «on the demographic, socio-economic, and cultural behaviors of the population». At the same time, this process will «provide an integrated database to better support the development of public policies in the areas of social development, intergenerational solidarity, education, housing, and equal opportunities», the same source adds, emphasizing «the confidentiality of the personal data collected». In this context, the statistical institution has called for «strong participation from the households that will be approached to ensure the success of this national operation», the results of which will shed more light on family realities in Morocco and support appropriate family policies, in line with concrete needs.
Ya Biladi
05-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Five Moroccan regions account for 72% of active workforce in early 2025
Five regions accounted for 72% of all active individuals aged 15 and over in the first quarter of 2025, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP). Casablanca-Settat topped the list with 22.3%, followed by Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (13.2%), Marrakech-Safi (13%), Fès-Meknès (11.9%), and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (11.7%). In its information note on the labor market situation in Q1 2025, the HCP noted that four regions reported activity rates above the national average of 42.9%. These were Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (47.1%), the Southern regions (45.6%), Casablanca-Settat (45.1%), and Marrakech-Safi (43.1%). The lowest activity rates were recorded in Souss-Massa (40.1%), Béni Mellal-Khénifra (39.9%), and the Oriental region (39.3%). When it comes to unemployment, five regions accounted for 70% of all unemployed individuals. Casablanca-Settat led with 23%, followed by Fès-Meknès (13.2%), the Oriental region (12.2%), Rabat-Salé-Kénitra (11.9%), and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (9.8%). The highest unemployment rates were recorded in the Oriental region (25.2%) and the Southern regions (23.8%). Two additional regions posted rates above the national average of 13.3%: Casablanca-Settat (13.7%) and Fès-Meknès (14.7%). In contrast, Drâa-Tafilalet, Marrakech-Safi, and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima recorded the lowest unemployment rates, at 8%, 8.9%, and 11.2% respectively.
Morocco World
02-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Fouzi Lekjaa: Butane Gas Costs Morocco Over MAD 15 Billion a Year
Rabat – The Moroccan government continues to face a heavy financial burden from subsidizing butane gas, revealed Fouzi Lekjaa, the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget. The country spends over MAD 15 billion every year to support the price of this essential household fuel. Each 12-kilogram gas cylinder receives an average subsidy of MAD 62. Despite the high cost, Lekjaa confirmed that the government does not intend to raise the price of butane gas. He made the statement in response to a written question from the parliament. He recalled that recent increases in the price of 3 kg and 12 kg gas cylinders, by MAD 2.5 and 10 respectively, were only applied after the launch of a new direct social assistance program in December 2023. The government allowed a four-month transition period to help limit the impact on low-income families. Lekjaa said that data shows that the effect of the price increase has been small. According to the High Commission for Planning (HCP), the added monthly cost for poor households is no more than MAD 18 per month. That amount represents 3.6% of the minimum monthly financial aid of MAD 500 given under the new system. Lekjaa stated that the direct aid system represents a major change in Morocco's approach to supporting families. Instead of giving general subsidies to everyone, which the government says is costly and ineffective, the new method provides money directly to families based on their needs, he argued. The government allocated MAD 25 billion to help 3.9 million families. Monthly support ranges from MAD 500 to more than MAD 1,500, depending on each family's situation. Alongside this, the government is also working to fight inflation, especially in agriculture. It has spent MAD 20 billion to support the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 farming seasons. A new emergency plan is also being prepared for the 2024–2025 season to ensure food is available at affordable prices.
