Overview of the New Labor Force Survey (EMO2026)
The newly launched Labor Force Survey (EMO2026) marks a significant advancement as it represents the first survey of a new generation aimed at assessing the labor market in Morocco. This initiative is meticulously designed in alignment with the latest international standards established during the 19th, 20th, and 21st International Conferences of Labor Statisticians (ICLS) organized by the International Labor Organization (ILO). EMO2026 succeeds the National Employment Survey (ENE), aiming to provide a more accurate and comprehensive analysis of the employment landscape.
Key Methodological and Conceptual Changes
This new framework introduces substantial methodological and conceptual changes, which can be categorized into three main axes:
Axis 1 – Conceptual Update
The primary developments within this new conceptual framework revolve around three key areas:
- The redefinition of employment, which now encompasses only activities performed for remuneration or profit.
- The adoption of a stricter definition of unemployment, aimed at accurately measuring immediate pressures on the labor market.
- The expansion of the assessment of labor underutilization, which now includes underemployment related to working hours and potential labor force.
It is crucial to note that the results from EMO2026 are not directly comparable to previous ENE series due to these conceptual shifts:
- Employment: EMO2026 classifies as employment only work conducted for pay or profit. For instance, individuals engaged in activities primarily for self-consumption within non-market units are now categorized under production for own use, rather than employment.
- Unemployment: The strict unemployment rate now replaces the broader unemployment rate previously measured by the ENE. This more restrictive measure only considers individuals who are unemployed, available for work, and actively seeking employment. Consequently, it excludes those who are available but not actively looking, as well as those who are seeking work but are not available.
- Labor Underutilization: The previous approach relying solely on the unemployment rate is now supplanted by a multidimensional system incorporating four indicators. This new methodology allows for a nuanced understanding of various forms of labor underutilization through: (1) the strict unemployment rate; (2) a combined rate of strict unemployment and underemployment related to hours worked; (3) a rate associating strict unemployment with the potential labor force; and (4) a composite rate encompassing strict unemployment, underemployment, and potential labor force. Collectively, these indicators provide insights into both current and potential pressures on the labor market.
Axis 2 – Methodological Review: The sample size has increased from 90,000 to 135,000 households annually, significantly enhancing the precision of indicators, particularly at regional and provincial levels. Additionally, the sampling frame has been updated based on the most recent results from the 2024 General Population and Housing Census (RGPH), and a new quarterly and annual rotation scheme for households has been instituted. This allows for partial longitudinal tracking of households and the analysis of quarterly and annual dynamics of labor market indicators.
Axis 3 – Thematic Enrichment: The thematic scope of the new framework has been broadened. It now incorporates new or enhanced themes, including challenges related to access to the labor market, informal employment, various forms of labor underutilization, and lifelong learning.
As reported by hcp.ma.
