Young Moroccans constitute over 10 million of the 35 million total population and 80 percent of the unemployed in the country.

Surprisingly, unemployment rates rise sharply with educational attainment – ranging from just 1.6 percent for labor force participants with no education to over 22 percent for university graduates. While job growth cannot keep up with young Moroccans entering the job market, many graduates also lack the ability to communicate effectively with employers and find jobs commensurate with their education. At the same time, employers complain of skill shortages and mismatches. Without career guidance in higher and vocational education institutions, young Moroccans lose the opportunity to make informed choices about their career trajectories, with minimal prospects for advancement.

USAID RESPONSE

USAID Morocco has designed the USAID Career Center program to assist young people’s transition from education to employment. The Career Centers invest in labor market actors to provide youth with a better understanding of employment trends, demand for skills, and opportunities to connect with the private sector. The program uses communication and outreach tactics to accelerate change, positioning the USAID Career Center as a leading platform and key point of access for youth employability.

Six physical Career Centers and a Virtual Career Center were launched. Each of the brick-and-mortar Career Centers provide students and vocational trainees with diagnostic tools to help them discover their potential; provide market information on viable career pathways; work-readiness training (soft skills and job search skills); and networking opportunities to prepare youth for a professional work environment. The Virtual Career Center (careercenter.ma) offers on-line services for young Moroccans who cannot visit the physical centers.

RESULTS ACHIEVED

• Over 200,000 youth have benefitted from Career Center services, doubling the original objective to reach 100,000 beneficiaries.
• Over 1,283,000 users have visited the Virtual Career Center, which has over 70,000 registered users.
• Over 300 partnerships have been established with the private sector.
• 24 soft skills modules were developed for in-person delivery, and 16 e-learning modules are available on the Virtual Career Center.
• Over 40,000 youth have received work-readiness training.
• Two partner universities integrated the program’s soft skills modules into their curricula for master’s programs. Morocco’s largest vocational training provider, with 300+ vocational training centers throughout the country, has integrated Career Center’s soft skills modules into their curricula for all students.
• The Ministry of Education has donated physical space and hired and trained Career Center staff, which has contributed to the sustainability of the program.
• Over 120 staff from partner institutions received training to prepare them to staff future Career Centers.
• The partner Ministry committed to sustain the existing Career Centers and appointed a central management committee to scale the Career Center model beyond the life of the USAID-funded program.