“Like a rocket”: Germany marvels at Morocco’s boom… and at those who still want to leave
Morocco is racking up industrial, tourism and port successes. Yet a large proportion of its young people are still considering emigration. This contrast is attracting the attention of German media, which are looking beyond the new factories, trains and major construction projects.
German public television broadcaster ARD devoted a Weltspiegel documentary to this phenomenon on Sunday, September 27. Its title sums up the subject: “Morocco: Emigrating Despite the Boom”.
A few weeks earlier, Spanish entrepreneur Miguel Sabio, who has long been based in Tangier, had already described this transformation in WELT: “Morocco really is like a rocket, and in many areas.” He spoke of the changes over the past twenty years in infrastructure, transport and the economy.
On Bladi.net : Stadiums, Motorways, Factories… but Youth Unemployment in Morocco Still Stands at 37 %
The contrast is particularly visible in Tangier. The city is home to a growing automotive industry and is close to Tanger Med, which handled more than eleven million containers in 2025. At the same time, many young people continue to see Europe as the fastest route to a job and a better income.
The boom is not enough to keep young people from leaving
Surveys confirm the scale of the phenomenon. According to Afrobarometer, 44% of Moroccans surveyed had already considered emigrating. The proportion reached 64% among young people, 61% among those with the highest qualifications and 69% among unemployed people looking for work.
The reasons are primarily economic. Among those who had considered leaving, 50% cited job opportunities, 12% better business prospects and 12% the desire to escape financial difficulties. Europe was by far the most popular destination, with 58% of responses.
The Arab Barometer had already measured the same contrast. In its survey conducted between December 2023 and January 2024, 35% of Moroccans said they had considered emigrating. The rate rose to 55% among 18- to 29-year-olds, compared with 24% among older generations.
On Bladi.net : Europe invests €112 million in Morocco to also address the desire to emigrate
The desire to leave is therefore not limited to the poorest or least educated. The Arab Barometer found a nine-point gap between people with higher education qualifications and those with fewer qualifications. Above all, only one in four Moroccans viewed the government’s performance in creating jobs positively.
This is the gap that macroeconomic performance can no longer conceal. The factories, ports, railway lines and World Cup construction projects make the boom immediately visible. For young Moroccans, its success is measured elsewhere: in the number of jobs available, the salaries on offer and the possibility of building a life without having to leave.
