Hommam Al Nassim 
Morocco’s unemployment rate rose to 13.7% in the first three months of this year, compared to 12.9% in the same period last year, official statistics show.
The rise comes amid the fallout from the country’s worst drought in more than four decades.
The High Commission for Planning noted that “the situation of the labor market is still suffering from the effects of drought”, as the market lost 159,000 jobs in rural areas, while 78,000 jobs were created in urban areas, resulting in a decrease in the total volume of jobs by 80,000 jobs.
Statistics showed that “the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector lost 206,000 jobs,” resulting in an increase in the number of unemployed by 96,000 people between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024.
The unemployment rate in urban areas increased from 17.1% to 17.6%, in rural areas from 5.7% to 6.8%, and the unemployment rate among the 15-24 age group increased to 35.9%, reaching 20.3% among degree holders, and about 20% among women.
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