Underemployment, unemployment, regional disparities: The dreaded triangle

The national economy is still struggling to create sustainable, inclusive jobs. In the third quarter of 2024, economic growth reached 2.8%, supported by a recovery in domestic demand and a rise in exports. However, this growth remains insufficient to absorb the increase in the working population, causing a slight rise in the unemployment rate. An analysis of the labor market reveals complex dynamics.

Despite the creation of 213,000 jobs nationwide, mainly in urban areas, the unemployment rate rose to 13.6% nationwide.

nationwide. This rise is the result of insufficient employment growth in the face of an increase in the working population. Unemployment in rural areas fell from 7% to 7.4%, while it remains high in urban areas at 17%, reflecting a persistent mismatch between job supply and demand, exacerbated by the decline in agricultural activities. Over 1.68 million people remain unemployed, a situation that particularly affects young people, women, and graduates. Young people aged between 15 and 24 are the hardest hit, with an alarming unemployment rate of 39.5%, followed by women at 20.8% and graduates at 19.8%. These figures reflect a mismatch between the training on offer and the job opportunities available. The High Commissioner’s Office for Planning (HCP) reveals a further complexity: underemployment continues to grow, now reaching 10% nationwide. This situation, which affects almost 1.07 million working people, highlights the increasing use of precarious or part-time jobs, often unsuited to workers’ qualifications. In the construction sector, for example, the rate of underemployment has reached 19.9%, reflecting unstable working conditions despite growing demand for labor. Despite this, the national economy saw an overall increase in employment thanks to the creation of 231,000 jobs in urban areas, partly offsetting the loss of 17,000 jobs in rural areas. This job creation resulted from an increase in paid positions (+262,000) and a decrease in unpaid positions (-49,000). One thing is certain: the employment situation in the third quarter of 2024 reveals both progress and persistent challenges. The results illustrate a complexity that calls for rigorous public policies, aimed at strengthening the resilience of the most fragile sectors and promoting inclusive, sustainable growth in all regions of the country.

Khadija MASMOUDI