The Moroccan green economy is gradually establishing itself as a structural pillar of the job market. According to a national assessment published by the High Commission for Planning, 336,000 direct jobs were recorded in 2022 in the main sectors related to ecological transition. By 2030, this number could exceed 500,000 positions if investment trajectories and sectoral objectives are maintained.
However, behind these promising figures, the report paints a nuanced picture. The expansion of green sectors is accompanied by territorial imbalances, a still significant weight of informality in certain branches, and, above all, a concerning deficit in qualified skills.
The scope defined by the High Commission for Planning encompasses seven strategic sectors: renewable energies, energy efficiency, solid waste management, liquid sanitation, drinking water, sustainable agriculture, and the forestry sector. Together, they form a changing ecosystem, driven both by the Kingdom’s climate commitments, national strategic priorities, and the influx of funding related to environmental policies.
In renewable energies, the rise of solar and wind projects has generated several tens of thousands of jobs, particularly in the design, installation, and maintenance of infrastructure. Energy efficiency, especially in buildings and industry, also opens significant prospects, with a growing need for specialized engineers, energy audit technicians, and installers of high-performance equipment.
Waste management represents one of the main sources of jobs, although it is marked by a high proportion of low-skilled positions and a significant share of informal activity. The drinking water and sanitation sectors mobilize significant workforce related to the operation and maintenance of hydraulic infrastructures. Sustainable agriculture and forest management complete this panorama, particularly in rural areas, where the transition to more resource-efficient practices is gradually transforming the local productive fabric.
However, the report emphasizes that the growth dynamic remains contingent on several factors. Projections of over 500,000 direct jobs by 2030 are based on the assumption of sustained acceleration of public and private investments, a stable regulatory framework, and continuous mobilization of international climate financing.
The main point of concern revolves around skills. The gap between the technical needs of green sectors and the current training supply presents a major challenge. Several thousand additional technicians and engineers will be needed in the coming years, especially in renewable energies and energy efficiency. Without a rapid adaptation of vocational and university training systems, there is a risk of hindering the sector’s expansion or relying more on imported skills.
Thus, the High Commission for Planning stresses the need to structure certifying pathways dedicated to green jobs, enhance coordination between training institutions and economic operators, and modernize statistical frameworks to better measure the actual evolution of environmental employment.
Beyond the quantitative dimension, the report also questions the quality of the jobs created. While some sectors offer qualified and relatively stable positions, others remain marked by precariousness and a lack of comprehensive social coverage. The gradual formalization of certain activities, particularly in waste management, appears to be a central issue.
Ultimately, the High Commission’s assessment highlights a rapidly expanding sector, full of significant potential for employment and the structural transformation of the Moroccan economy. However, it also reminds us that the ecological transition can only fulfill its promises if substantial investments are made in human capital and the institutional and industrial foundations of a truly green economy are consolidated.