The national average of unemployment has decreased by 0.7 percent during the first quarter of 2005, in comparison to the first quarter of last year, moving from an average of 12.0% of unemployment to an average of 11.3%.
According to Moroccan authorities, unemployment rates range between 19.8% to 19.2%, in urban areas, and 4.1% to 3.3% in rural areas. Yabiladi reports that the decrease in unemployment was mainly felt among women (-3.3%) and youths, between the ages of 15 to 24 (-1.6 %) in urban areas. It was also felt among rural residents, holding a diploma of some sort (-3.3%).
