Morocco faces job crisis amid economic growth and slowing real‑estate market

A recent Steimson Center report identifies Morocco as an emerging regional economic power, ranking fifth in Africa with a GDP of about $154 billion in 2024. Real GDP grew 4.9% in 2025 while inflation fell to 0.8%. The economy is diversifying beyond phosphates, with the automotive sector now accounting for 25% of exports and producing over one million cars annually, and Chinese investors committing more than $700 million to electric‑vehicle battery production. However, unemployment rose to 13.3% in 2024, with urban youth joblessness exceeding 35% and female labour‑force participation at only 22%. The report stresses that addressing the job crisis, improving education, and implementing an AI strategy targeting 240 000 digital jobs are essential for inclusive growth.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s real‑estate market showed a pronounced slowdown in 2026. The overall price index fell 0.4% year‑on‑year and transaction volume dropped 9.3%. Major cities recorded steeper declines: Rabat saw prices fall 4.7% and sales plunge 55.4%; Casablanca prices slipped 2.7% with a 37.8% drop in transactions; Marrakech prices dipped 1.5% while sales fell 51.5%; Tangier price fell 3.9% and transactions fell 36.4%. Apartment, house and villa sales fell 37.5%, 51.6% and 53.1% respectively, highlighting a broad market slowdown.