Morocco—Facing the challenge of a youth unemployment rate as high as 37%, Morocco is turning its attention to the rapidly growing global gaming industry as one of the solutions. The government hopes to stimulate the innovative potential of the youth by increasing investment in this digital sector, creating sustainable employment, and driving the nation towards a digital future.
According to data from the Moroccan High Commission for Planning, the youth unemployment rate reached 37.7% in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 1.8 percentage points from the previous quarter. Despite the severe situation, Morocco has not responded passively but has actively laid out plans for the digital economy to pave the way for young people's development.
Mehdi Bensaid, the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, is committed to making the gaming industry a core engine of national economic growth. In an interview with the Associated Press, he stated: "We are betting on the video game industry to create new job opportunities for young people, promote economic diversification, and thereby secure a place in the digital age."
With over three billion gamers worldwide, this vast market is highly attractive to Morocco. The country's gaming industry currently has an annual output value of over 500 million USD, and the government plans to double it by 2030. Gaming is seen not just as a tool for economic growth but also as a new pathway to empower the youth.
"Our goal is not only revenue but also to empower young people," said Bensaid. "We are opening up new professional tracks and creating more realistic options for them."
Morocco's Rabat "Game City" is the flagship project of this strategy, with an investment of 26 million USD and covering five hectares. The park includes co-working areas, game development studios, and training facilities, dedicated to providing young people with professional skills training from programming to virtual reality.
Meanwhile, Morocco also values the upgrading of its educational system, launching a "Video Game Creators" course in collaboration with France, and many universities are also adding practice projects that align with the industry, aimed at narrowing the gap between the classroom and the workplace.
For many Moroccan youths, video games are no longer just entertainment but a springboard to dreams, prosperity, and international influence. Morocco is not only participating in the gaming industry but also trying to reshape its rules and roles on the global stage.
