Sekkouri: The Employment Promotion Agency Fails to Address Over 100,000 Job Applications Annually
Younes Sekkouri, the Minister of Economic Integration, Small Enterprises, Employment, and Skills, revealed that the National Agency for Employment Promotion and Skills is unable to meet more than 100,000 job requests annually from businesses. This situation persists despite the submission of these applications to the agency, which he attributed to the lack of suitable skills for certain sectors and the unattractiveness of proposed wages and working conditions.
During a thematic session on social justice in the context of global transformations, held on the sidelines of the 10th International Parliamentary Forum on Social Justice, Sekkouri noted that for the first time, opportunities have been opened for young individuals without diplomas. He highlighted that approximately 20% of new registrations with the agency are from individuals lacking qualifications.
The minister pointed out that a large segment of youth does not benefit from any direct or indirect public support for accessing training or employment, clarifying that the NEET group—those not in employment, education, or training—amounts to around one million young people out of approximately one and a half million unemployed individuals.
Sekkouri also addressed the generalization of the vocational training system, which previously included around 26,000 trainees, of whom 9,000 were within companies. He emphasized that this system relies on 20% theoretical training and 80% practical experience; however, its results remain limited compared to the scale of the challenges, especially given that school dropout rates reach around 280,000 students annually.
He highlighted that the number of beneficiaries from vocational training has been raised to 100,000 annually since last October, indicating that this initiative has effectively begun and spans several sectors and nearly 200 professions, covering educational levels from the end of primary education to the baccalaureate and specialized technicians, with a special focus on the most vulnerable groups.
The minister noted that regional and social disparities continue to pose a significant challenge, despite efforts made in the fields of water, electricity, and infrastructure, emphasizing that community needs are constantly evolving. He also mentioned the necessity to renew the social contract based on a royal vision that supports vulnerable groups, citing the direct social support project that has now become a reality benefiting millions of families.
Sekkouri concluded by affirming the pivotal role of the workforce in both the public and private sectors and the importance of social dialogue as a mechanism for translating social demands. He reminded that social agreements, particularly the April 2024 agreement, resulted in a general salary increase and a reconsideration of income tax to accommodate the conditions of the middle class and the most vulnerable groups.
