Young Moroccans Seek Opportunities Abroad, Survey Reveals High Emigration Intent

According to the report, the intention to emigrate varies according to sex, age, level of education and region. Thus, it is higher for men than for women (28.6% against 17.7%), notes the report, which adds that it is 40% among young people (15-29 years old), reaches a quarter of young people with secondary or higher education level and stands at 40% for those who have received vocational training.

Also, "the intention to emigrate remains high for non-migrant unemployed people (50.9%)," the report specifies, deducing that employment is the main reason for emigration of young people, in particular employment and working conditions (60.3%), studies and training (15.5%) and standard of living (8.2%).

In terms of destination region for Moroccan emigrants, Europe is in the lead (81.1%) with France, Spain and Italy as preferred destinations. This is followed by North American countries with 9.2%.

The survey aims to identify the causes and consequences of the international migration of Moroccans residing abroad and Moroccans returning to the country, in order to make updated data on the subject available for the development of strategies, policies and programs on international migration, supports the HCP.

This first phase was carried out between August 2018 and January 2019 with 15,076 households, including nearly 8,200 current migrant households, 4,100 returning migrant households and 2,700 non-migrant households.

As for the second phase, it will be carried out in the second half of 2020 with refugees and asylum seekers, irregular migrants and regularized immigrants.