As Morocco is faced with an increasing crisis of youth unemployment, the High Atlas Foundation aims to respond by establishing a workforce training program to help promote community economic and social development.

The trajectory of a country and the implementation of policy changes have come to fruition with the consideration of the impact that they will have on future generations. As the Kingdom of Morocco has shifted their focus on development, the newest phase within the National Human Development Initiative places a strong emphasis upon youth. Focusing on the empowerment and economic security of youth within Morocco, creates significant strides in breaking systematic cycles of poverty and increasing human development of communities. In order to address human and economic development of youth and the stability of communities the High Atlas Foundation aims to respond to this call by establishing a youth-focused economic empowerment and training program.

The demographics of youth are defined internationally to be within the age ranges of 15 to 24 years old. When looking at economic factors oftentimes the age demographics are expanded towards including those from 15 to 29 years of age, to get a broader look into the success of youth within the current workforce environment. Youth within the context of Morocco according to data released in 2022, constitute around 6 million citizens within a country with a population of around 37 million inhabitants. Looking at further statistics what is even more pressing is the breakdown of the economic and educational status of youth within Morocco. Currently around 1.5 million Moroccan youth face issues of job insecurity including lack of participation in educational or vocational pursuits, which constitute 29.7% of Moroccans facing unemployment within youth demographics.

The Morocco High Commissioner for Planning’s report further showcased the regions and urban-rural divide that unemployed youth are within, with the majority living in the urban areas especially Casablanca and Marrakech. As this demographic is the newest to enter into the job market within Morocco, these statistics show insights into the current Moroccan job market, demographic, and industry instability.

The issue of youth unemployment and job insecurity has been a systematic issue for years within Morocco, which is correlated towards the relationship between the number of people entering the workforce which is outpacing the number of unskilled laborious jobs available and the lack of educational access towards pursuing other vocational ventures. The vulnerability and potential for adverse externalities related to youth unemployment, especially increasing emigration patterns, potential instability, and the further cycles of underdevelopment, is the primary reason that increasing reforms and the emphasis on workforce training programs have begun to be undertaken by the Moroccan government.

When faced with economic instability, there is a positive correlation between increased feelings of isolationism and social exclusion leading to further adverse psychological effects amongst youth. In order to gain a sense of social connection, youth have the potential to become intertwined with crime and violence, leaving them in a precarious social balance. As seen with studies of international youth unemployment, discontent can lead to cases of political and social instability fueled by the social tensions and lack of opportunities facing marginalized groups. In order to escape the volatility, emigration has been seen as a potential path for Moroccan youth that are hoping to find employment abroad and therefore financially support extended family within Morocco. According to reports, upwards of 70% of Moroccan youth wish to emigrate due to the job market’s lack of opportunity. Those who decide to engage with the domestic economy, when confronted with long-term unemployment face being stuck within cycles of community underdevelopment. Without having a source of stable income, youth aren’t financially able to support their families or communities and are not given opportunities to advance from cycles of poverty. Yet, the providing of a workforce training program gives youth the sustainable long-term skills in order to establish their economic independence and sources of income.

Acknowledging the correlation that comes with how large gains in development are created and furthered when economic opportunities are increased, the Kingdom of Morocco established a 2021 report surrounding economic development goals for the Kingdom to reach by 2035, with a heavy emphasis on youth. The human development methodology established for socio-economic reintegration and solutions to the Moroccan unemployment crisis, is government emphasis on vocational and workforce training programs for youth. This is due to the emphasis of the role of youth on furthering and ultimately reaching Morocco's development goals.

In response to the call for increases in economic training programs, the High Atlas Foundation, a Moroccan-US 501(c)(3) committed to Moroccan sustainable development, is in the process of establishing an economic-agricultural training and empowerment program for economically at-risk young adults. By focusing on two demographics of youth, those that have previously been incarcerated for non-violent crimes and recent college graduates, both which have statistically high rates of financial volatility, the program will give participants short-term employment that provides the opportunity to learn training and skills, leadership development, and preparation to enter the workforce and have future stable and sustainable employment opportunities.

Lucia Fogler is a second year Foreign Affairs student at the University of Virginia and an intern at the High Atlas Foundation