Moroccan cities top the African attractiveness index and assert their presence in the job market.
Moroccan cities have made a strong showing in the latest ranking by Sagaci Research, which revealed a clear superiority of urban centers in the Kingdom in the second edition of the “Top 30 Most Attractive African Cities” report, especially in terms of labor market dynamics and economic pulse. The results were announced in the magazine Jeune Afrique, highlighting Morocco’s remarkable exception on the continent.
Casablanca ranked first, followed by Rabat in second place, and Tangier in third, making the podium a completely Moroccan affair. This superiority positions the Kingdom alongside major African cities such as Alexandria, which came fourth, and Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, which took fifth place.
The ranking is based on a comprehensive survey of the residents of African cities across four main axes, as well as an analysis of foreign direct investment flows. The report focuses on labor market dynamics as the most significant indicator of urban attractiveness, ability to create opportunities, and maintain economic stability.
The report notes that although African cities play a crucial role in driving growth and creating jobs, they are facing increasing pressure due to internal migration and population expansion, posing significant structural challenges. However, Moroccan cities have managed to overcome these constraints, thanks to advanced infrastructure, a conducive entrepreneurial environment, and a skilled workforce, presenting a successful model in the region.
The ranking also revealed significant disparities between regions on the continent; in East Africa, Kigali topped the sixth position, followed by Cairo in seventh, and Nairobi in tenth. In West Africa, the performance was weaker, with Cotonou placed thirteenth, Abidjan twentieth, Dakar twenty-third, and Lomé twenty-eighth. In the southern part of the continent, Pretoria secured the fifteenth place, followed by Cape Town in eighteenth, while Johannesburg fell to twenty-second and Durban to twenty-sixth.
The report concludes that enhancing labor market dynamics and investing in economic infrastructure and vocational training programs are key to transforming African cities into genuine engines of development, citing the Moroccan experience as a reference that combines investment attractiveness with high quality of life.
