The West is hunting Moroccan talent
Introduction:
In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend of Western countries actively seeking and attracting Moroccan talent. This growing interest in Moroccan professionals, entrepreneurs, and skilled individuals is a testament to the country’s potential and the recognition of its talented workforce.
In this blog post, we will explore the reasons behind the West’s pursuit of Moroccan talent and the potential benefits it brings to both sides.
The improvement in the overall accounts or the restoration of economic growth was not reflected positively in the labor market in Morocco, which lost 86 thousand jobs in the first half of the current year, which raised the unemployment rate to 12.4 percent of the total number of workers in the active category, which is a rate much higher. Compared to what was recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic, when it was only 8 percent in 2019.
1. Morocco’s Skilled Workforce:
Morocco has a rich pool of talented individuals across various sectors, including technology, engineering, finance, arts, and more. The country’s education system has been instrumental in producing highly skilled graduates who possess the necessary knowledge and expertise to excel in their respective fields. Western countries, recognizing this talent, are actively seeking to tap into this resource to meet their own economic and labor market needs.
2. Economic Opportunities:
The West’s interest in Moroccan talent is driven by the economic opportunities it presents. Moroccan professionals bring diverse skills, fresh perspectives, and a strong work ethic to Western companies. By hiring Moroccan talent, Western businesses can benefit from cost-effective labor, while simultaneously gaining access to a multicultural workforce that can help them expand their global reach and cater to diverse markets.
3. Cultural Exchange and Diversity:
The pursuit of Moroccan talent is not solely driven by economic factors. Western countries also value the cultural exchange and diversity that Moroccan professionals bring to their societies. By welcoming individuals from different backgrounds, Western nations foster an inclusive environment that promotes creativity, innovation, and a broader understanding of different cultures. This exchange of ideas and perspectives can lead to the development of new solutions and approaches to various challenges.
4. Brain Drain Concerns:
While the West’s interest in Moroccan talent is undoubtedly beneficial for both sides, it is essential to address the concerns of brain drain. Brain drain refers to the emigration of highly skilled individuals from their home country to seek better opportunities abroad. To mitigate this concern, it is crucial for Morocco to create an environment that encourages talent retention. This can be achieved through the implementation of policies that promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment in education and research.
The pandemic cost the Moroccan economy a 7 percent decline in growth, and the loss of about half a million jobs in 2020.
Restoration
Despite the restoration of growth by 8 percent in 2021 and the pumping of $12 billion in additional investments through bank financing, the Russian war on… Ukraine, rising prices, inflation, unprecedented interest rates, and climate change, all of these reasons together harmed the Moroccan economy in 2022, as growth declined to 1.3 percent due to drought, water scarcity, and weak agricultural production, in which 29 percent of the active population works.
Draft budget
In the framework paper for the draft budget for the year 2024, the government identified four priorities, to confront circumstantial influences, continue laying the foundations of the social state, include and adopt structural reforms, and enhance the sustainability of public finances.
It expected to achieve growth of 3.7 percent compared to 3.4 percent at the end of 2023, with the budget deficit decreasing to 4 percent, down from 4.5 percent, with the aim of preserving macroeconomic balances and reducing debt rates to 60 percent. percent of GDP in the middle of the current decade.
The unemployment rate among degree holders and graduates of institutes and universities is estimated at 19.2 percent, while it does not exceed 4.5 percent for the uneducated, which means that education does not always lead to career advancement.
High Commission
A report by the High Commission for Planning, an institution for economic and social studies independent of the government, stated that the number of unemployed people increased by 156,000 people between the second quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023, which raised the number of job seekers to 1.54 million people.
Their number was estimated at 1.38 million people, which represents an increase of 11 percent in one year. The average national unemployment rate moved from 11.2 percent of the active category to 12.4 percent, and this percentage represents 16 percent in cities and 5.7 percent in rural areas.
It is higher for young men under the age of 24 at 33.6 percent, and for girls it reaches 32 percent, and the percentage decreases with age to reach 7.2 percent for those aged 35 to 44 years.
Unemployment rate
The unemployment rate among degree holders and graduates of institutes and universities is estimated at 19.2 percent, while it does not exceed 4.5 percent for the uneducated, which means that education does not always lead to career advancement, but may constitute a career obstacle in the event of the wrong choice of education, weakness of languages, and the use of languages. Digital means.
Workers picking strawberries in Kenitra province, Morocco
Crisis That Benefits Developed Countries
This explains the desire of a significant percentage of educated youth to immigrate to countries that provide more opportunities in the field of the labor market, a crisis that benefits developed countries that hunt for talent in a kind of open selection market facilitated by the Internet and social networking sites.
Official statistics spoke of a brain drain to Europe and Canada, amounting to about 6,000 people annually, most of them doctors, engineers, innovators, and computer programmers, offering their expertise overseas.
The government intends to introduce profound fundamental amendments and reforms to teaching curricula in Moroccan universities, develop foreign language competencies, especially English, and generalize the use of digital technology in scientific research, in an effort to improve the opportunities of graduates in the labor market, after the near absence of employment opportunities in the public sector and government departments that…
Employment governance diminishes while clientelism and kinship interests rise.
The school curricula are considered one of the obstacles to the development of the labor market due to their reliance on specializations that may not be required by the private sector, or that are out of date, such as literary, legal, philosophical, and other old curricula, which are called the human sciences as opposed to the mathematical and technological sciences and innovations that have more space in the field.
Job opportunities as the demand for highly qualified jobs increases. Concerns are increasing in the labor market about the expansion of reliance on artificial intelligence, which may threaten many professions.
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Labor market decline
In the opinion of most analysts, economic growth is no longer achieving a similar development in job offers in the private sector, due to changing labor and production standards, to include the use of technology and machinery. The truth is that the rising generation’s fears regarding job opportunities outweigh the fears of the previous generation, which had many choices and was protected by society’s view of work, its appreciation, and respect for all professions.
The total number of workers in Morocco in various jobs and activities is estimated at 11 million people, whose work is distributed according to sectors into agriculture and fishing (28.6 percent), industry (12.2 percent), and services including administration and trade (48 percent).
Active Population
The active population is estimated at 12.5 million people, according to the last census in the second half of 2023, which represents 45 percent of the national activity of individuals of working age. This percentage was more than 54 percent many years ago, and it currently stands at 70 percent for men and 21 percent for women.
According to the same census, the total number of workers in Morocco in various jobs and activities is estimated at 11 million people, whose work is distributed according to sectors: agriculture and fishing (28.6 percent), industry (12.2 percent), and services including administration and trade (48 percent). ).
Government “Urash” projects
In the 2022 and 2023 budgets, the government proposed funds under the name “Opportunity” directed to entrepreneurs and start-up companies, with the aim of gradually engaging in the world of business, with the aim of encouraging young people to create small companies in the absence of the required quality jobs.
The government, which allocated $230 million for these projects, said that it financed about 10,000 projects with loans estimated at about $11,000 for each project over a period of ten years without interest, with a free contribution of ten thousand dirhams (about 1.1 thousand dollars).
It also launched the second version of the “Awarash” program, directed to artisans and those without certificates, especially women and residents of suburbs and rural areas, with the aim of establishing income-generating projects through financing from commercial banks guaranteed by the state.
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Involvement of Moroccan women
The purpose of these projects is to increase the involvement of Moroccan women in the productive fabric and improve their income and work, some of whom are responsible for families in vulnerable circumstances.
Statistics revealed that women’s work has declined in the last ten years to less than 20 percent of the active category, as if the “Arab Spring” reflects women’s ambition for work and social advancement despite the cognitive development throughout the North African region.
One of the remnants of that decade is the expansion of conservative thought, the local economy still suffering from its ideological consequences and its opposition to the development of the status of women, who occupy the forefront in the number of women seeking work with dignity.
Conclusion:
The West’s pursuit of Moroccan talent is a testament to the country’s growing reputation as a hub of skilled professionals. This trend not only benefits Western countries by providing them with a talented workforce and economic opportunities but also presents an opportunity for Morocco to strengthen its ties with the international community and foster economic growth.
By addressing brain drain concerns and creating an environment that nurtures talent, Morocco can ensure that its skilled individuals contribute to the country’s development while also benefiting from global opportunities. The West’s interest in Moroccan talent is a win-win scenario that can lead to mutual growth, cultural exchange, and innovation.
I’m Hassan Saeed, a Clinical Psychology graduate deeply engaged in the realms of WordPress, blogging, and technology. I enjoy merging my psychological background with the digital landscape. Let’s connect and explore these exciting intersections!
