Second-quarter figures
| HCP indicator | Q1 2026 | Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| National strict unemployment | 10.8% | 9.5% |
| Urban | 13.5% | 11.9% |
| Rural | 6.1% | 5.4% |
| Women | 16.1% | 14.8% |
| Men | 9.4% | 8.1% |
| Ages 15–24 | 29.2% | 27.2% |
HCP counts 1.121 million strictly unemployed people, 132,000 fewer than in the previous quarter. The national rate fell by 1.3 percentage points; that is not a 1.3% reduction in the number unemployed.
Why older rates need adjustment
The new labour-force survey, EMO, replaces the former national employment survey, ENE. It measures employment for pay or profit and distinguishes activities producing goods for household consumption. Strict unemployment requires job search and availability under the survey’s criteria.
The annual sample grows from 90,000 to 135,000 households. HCP provides provisional backcast series for 2017–2025, with a final version associated with the annual 2026 results. Comparing 9.5% with an unadjusted old ENE rate would treat part of a methodological difference as an economic change.
Employment and sectors
Employment for pay or profit reaches 10.643 million, up 279,000 quarter on quarter: 187,000 in urban areas and 92,000 in rural areas. This is a quarterly change, not an annual total or a count of exclusively permanent jobs.
Services account for 49.3% of this employment, agriculture 24.1%, industry 13.7% and construction 12.7%. These shares describe existing employment; they do not independently establish job quality, earnings or formal registration.
Young people, women and labour underutilisation
Labour-force participation is 42.2%, comprising 66.5% for men and 18.1% for women. Someone outside the labour force is not automatically counted as strictly unemployed. Falling unemployment therefore needs to be read alongside participation and employment.
The composite underutilisation measure stands at 18.9%, reaching 41.7% for young people and 26.7% for women. Strict unemployment is 16.7% among people with advanced qualifications and 16.0% with intermediate qualifications. These education groups are not the same population as the youth age group.
Regional figures measure something different
HCP’s regional table includes a combined measure of strict unemployment and the potential labour force. It reaches 26.2% in Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, 24.9% in Guelmim-Oued Noun, 20.1% in Oriental, 12.0% in Marrakech-Safi and 9.4% in Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma, against 14.7% nationally. These are not regional equivalents of the national 9.5% strict rate.
Our analysis of million-job promises uses these figures as statistical context while keeping party commitments separate from HCP’s measured outcomes.
Frequently asked questions
Is youth unemployment 9.5%?
No. Strict unemployment among 15–24-year-olds is 27.2% in Q2 2026. The 9.5% rate covers the wider labour force.
Were 279,000 jobs added over a year?
No. That is the increase in employment for pay or profit between Q1 and Q2 2026.
Can these rates be compared directly with 2025?
Use HCP’s comparable backcast series, noting their provisional status, rather than the old unadjusted ENE rates.
Further reading
Keywords
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