Morocco (132nd) and Egypt (141s') rank amongst the countries with the least efficient labour markets according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) of 142 countries. The rules in these countries are so strict that they have a doubly negative impact on young job seekers. On the one hand, employers are reluctant to employ youth in permanent positions because of very high job protection and dismissal costs. Both sets of rules need urgent reform.