• Morocco minister urges entrepreneurship support to boost job creation

• Job creation lags as hundreds of thousands enter labor market yearly

• High youth unemployment underscores need for innovative employment strategies

Morocco's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ryad Mezzour (photo), called for support for entrepreneurial initiatives to create jobs at a conference on entrepreneurship and employment in Marrakech on Friday, Feb. 6. He stressed the importance of an environment conducive to the emergence of innovative and sustainable projects.

According to the local press, this position reflects a desire to give more latitude to project leaders so they can create jobs and contribute to the national economy.

In the best years, the national economy can create up to 250,000 jobs, a figure considered insufficient given demand. Each year, around 180,000 graduates from higher education and more than 330,000 young people from vocational training enter the labor market, according to official data. This situation highlights the need for complementary initiatives, such as entrepreneurship, to absorb this young and qualified workforce.

He also emphasized the importance of strengthening synergies between public and private actors, particularly to support young entrepreneurs in their first years of activity, which are often decisive for the sustainability of their projects. The meeting brought together several professionals, representatives of innovation ecosystems and economic decision-makers, illustrating a collective dynamic around this strategy.

Support for Projects and Skills Transformation

According to Maroc Diplomatique, the head of Morocco's Ministry of Industry and Commerce stressed that structured support is essential for entrepreneurial initiatives, with mentorship programs, targeted financing and access to professional networks. This support helps remove obstacles faced by young startup promoters and increases the chances of success for job-creating projects.

The minister also emphasized the importance of developing skills adapted to labor market needs, noting that strengthening professional and technical training complements the entrepreneurial spirit. Young companies need both capital and talent trained in innovation, management and adaptation to economic changes.

This approach is part of a broader strategy to transform the Moroccan economy, where entrepreneurship becomes a collective tool for inclusive growth, capable of complementing traditional hiring channels and stimulating the creation of sustainable jobs.

Persistent Labor Market Challenges

This direction comes as Morocco's labor market continues to face structural challenges. According to the High Commission for Planning (HCP), the national unemployment rate stood at 13.3% in 2024, with a particularly high rate among 15-24 year olds reaching 36.7%, and the total number of unemployed people standing at 1.63 million.

Between 2024 and 2025, the national economy created 193,000 jobs, representing only 3.3% of the population of young people aged 15 to 24, estimated at around 6 million. Despite this progress, the majority of young people continue to face difficulties entering the workforce, which underscores the importance of innovative strategies such as entrepreneurship to absorb the young workforce and strengthen the match between training and employment.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou