The persistent skills gap remains a critical challenge in the Moroccan labor market, affecting youth employability and economic growth.

This study investigates the nature of skill gaps and the degree of stakeholder collaboration in addressing these gaps through the integration of two theoretical frameworks: the Triple Helix Model (THM), and the Varieties of Capitalism (VoC).

The first model pertains to the interactions between universities, industries, and governments.

As for the VoC, it compares economic systems by examining the role played by institutions and emphasizes the necessity of establishing proper complementarity among them.
Two of these institutions are the business sector (via systems of corporate governance and skills needs) and the education sector (via the system of higher education and vocational training and the distinction between the development of specific skills versus transferable skills). In this theory, two institutional complementarities promote economic efficiency and growth, namely: the Liberal Market Economy (LME), with systems developing transferable skills, and the Coordinated Market Economy (CME), prioritizing firm-based skills development leading to a much higher level of specialization.

More recent studies identified Mixed Market Economies (MME) and dependent market economies. Our literature review indicates that numerous studies have been conducted globally to analyze youth employment policies in major economies. We aim to add to this body of work by identifying the Moroccan VoC profile.

In this perspective, this research employs a qualitative methodology, integrating semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. Data collection was primarily conducted in the Souss Massa region, targeting key stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, industry representatives, and recent graduates. Our thematic analysis revealed three critical findings: a persistent misalignment between educational curricula and labor market demands, a weak coordination among universities, industries, and the government, and persistent structural barriers hindering effective collaboration, such as bureaucratic constraints and limited employer involvement in the higher education system.

Primary findings suggest that Morocco exhibits low institutional complementarity in higher education and a better complementarity in vocational training, which refers to a MME, where state-driven policies dominate, but employer participation in training initiatives remains insufficient in certain contexts. As a result, educational programs fail to equip higher education graduates with market-relevant skills, exacerbating youth unemployment.

To mitigate these challenges, our study proposes several practical policy recommendations regarding curriculum reform, university-industry partnerships and labor market data collection to inform policy decision.

Implementing these measures can foster a more coordinated and responsive skills ecosystem, ultimately improving youth employability and labor market efficiency in Morocco.

Keywords: Skills mismatch, graduates’ employability, Triple Helix Model, Varieties of Capitalism.