Some 426,000 new jobs created in Morocco in 2003, official

Some 426,000 new jobs were created in Morocco in 2003, including 63% of unpaid jobs (family aid or apprenticeship) said the high planning commissioner.

The commissioner said in a release, quoting a national survey, that 150,000 jobs were created in cities, mainly in agriculture, forests and fisheries ("6.7%), services ("3.6%), industry, handicraft included ("2%) and construction and public works ("1.2%).

Most jobs in cities were generated by the private sector (89.8%), the same source goes.

In rural areas, some 277,000 jobs were created in 2003 against 52,000 only in 2002, due to the favorable conditions for agriculture in the 2002-2003 farming season. Most jobs (89.1%) were created in agriculture, followed by industry (10%).

According to the high planning commissioner, population aged 15 and above reached 10,902,000 persons in 2003, i.e. a 5% rise compared to 2002.

Unemployment rate in 2003 reached 11.9% as compares to 11.6% in 2002, i.e. 96,000 more jobless people. In cities, it rose from 18.3% to 19.3% and affected all categories of the active population.