Casablanca-Settat: An Economic Powerhouse in 2024
The Casablanca-Settat region has solidified its reputation as Morocco's primary economic hub in 2024, according to a comprehensive report released by the Moroccan Observatory of Very Small, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (OMTPME). This report emphasizes the region’s remarkable growth in declared employment, an expanding business landscape, and a noticeable rise in wage levels. The findings indicate that despite ongoing structural challenges, Casablanca-Settat continues to be a dominant force within the national economy.
In a notable development, the number of jobs reported to the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) surged to 1.92 million in 2024, marking a 5.2% increase from the previous year. This uptick in employment has been accompanied by a slight improvement in wages. Specifically, the proportion of employees earning less than MAD 4,000 per month fell by 1.3 percentage points compared to 2023, and by 2.9 points since 2022, settling at 63.1% in 2024. Furthermore, the percentage of employees earning no more than the minimum wage (SMIG) decreased to 35.6%, down from 42.7% in 2023, although still slightly higher than the 32.8% recorded in 2022.
The region's business environment has also shown positive trends. The number of active companies registered with the CNSS reached 110,459 in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 3.6%. Casablanca prefecture retained its status as the leading economic center within the region, while Mohammedia saw significant growth. However, the provinces of Settat and Sidi Bennour reported declines in business activity.
Sector-specific data further illustrate the vitality of the Casablanca-Settat economy. The wholesale and retail trade sector, including vehicle and motorcycle repair, remains the largest segment of the regional business ecosystem, accounting for 28.1% of all declared companies. Following this, the construction sector holds a substantial share of 14.5%.
In terms of employment distribution, administrative and support service activities have emerged as the largest employers in the region, representing 22.3% of total declared jobs and experiencing a 5.5% growth in employment in 2024. The trade and vehicle repair sector ranked second, contributing 16.1% of jobs, while construction maintained its position as the third-largest employer, holding a 14.2% share of regional employment.
Despite these positive indicators, the “other service activities” sector experienced the most significant decline, with a 3.6% drop in the number of declared companies and an 8% decrease in employment. The report highlights that small businesses continue to play a crucial role in the regional economy, with companies employing fewer than 10 workers constituting 84.4% of all businesses registered with the CNSS. Employment growth has been particularly robust among companies aged between six and ten years, which saw a 7.6% increase in declared jobs from 2023 to 2024.
On the wage front, the region’s wage bill expanded to MAD 120.3 billion in 2024, representing an annual increase of 8.5% following a growth of 8.1% in 2023. Notably, professional, scientific, and technical activities recorded the highest increase in payroll, climbing by 14.8% over the year. The trade and vehicle repair sectors remained the largest contributors to the regional wage bill, accounting for 19.1% of total payroll expenditures. Together with professional and technical activities, these sectors underscored their pivotal role in Casablanca-Settat's economic landscape in 2024.
As reported by en.hespress.com.
