Knowledge Platform for Public Employment Services

Connecting jobseekers with tailored opportunities

Public Employment Services (PES) provide job matching and an increasing range of tailored employment-related services to job seekers and employers.

PES are typically established and operated by national, regional, or local governments with the aim of facilitating the functioning of the labor market and promoting employment opportunities. PES aim to create a more efficient, inclusive, and resilient labor market that benefits individuals, businesses, and society. The PES delivery model usually includes intake, profiling and matching job seekers with jobs opportunities collected from employers, and the provision or referral to active labor market programs and cash benefits to those seeking support.

On this page you will find:

globe

A global perspective on approaches and best practices implemented by public employment services developed by World Bank teams. Discover how different countries tackle unemployment, foster workforce development, and promote inclusive employment practices.

resources

Valuable resources to inform and support the design of Public Employment Services. Our curated collection of publications, cases studies, and data examines different models, policies, and initiatives, that can be adapted for use in other contexts.

The content, knowledge and public goods showcased in this site has been developed and curated by World Bank Group teams as part of country engagements. This page is curated by the Labor Global Solutions Group of the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice.

Labor and Skills Global Solutions Group

World Bank Social Protection and Jobs

PES Delivery Chain

The services that an individual receives from a Public Employment Service depends on their needs. However, despite great variations in the systems, most countries seem to organize and conceptualize their approach to serving beneficiaries as a delivery chain including outreach, intake, assessment enrollment, provision of services and benefits, intermediation and ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

Our work highlights innovative and good practices within each stage of the delivery chain. Click on the infographic below to access content related to each stage of the delivery chain.

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PES Functions

Click on each to learn more about this function, best practices, and how other countries are doing this.

outreach infographicThe primary goal of outreach is to create awareness about available services among job seekers, employers, and other stakeholders. Through various communication channels, PES engages with the target audience to inform them about the benefits and opportunities provided by their services. See resources

Outreach

job matchingPES assist job seekers in their search for suitable employment. They act as intermediaries, gathering and sharing information about job vacancies, coordinating with employers, and matching job seekers’ skills with suitable opportunities. Additionally, they provide valuable job search assistance to enhance the chances of successful job placement.See resources

Matching Job Seekers to Opportunities

skills trainingRecognizing that some job seekers lack the necessary skills demanded by employers, PES is committed to bridging this gap through comprehensive training programs, vocational courses, career counseling, and upskilling initiatives. By empowering job seekers with the right skills, they enhance their employability and competitiveness in the job market. See resources

Training and Skills
Development

employee supportPES serves as gateways to social protection benefits, including unemployment insurance and assistance. They also work to address labor market inequality and social exclusion by providing or referring individuals to specific programs, such as wage subsidies, sheltered jobs, and public works initiatives. These efforts are aimed at increasing access to the labor market for those disadvantaged due to background, gender, ethnicity, or disability status. See resources

Supporting the
Vulnerable

economic developmentIn collaboration with employers, PES actively address their workforce needs. They offer valuable services, including recruitment assistance, pre-screening of candidates, hosting job fairs, and providing employer incentives or subsidies. By supporting employers in finding the right talent, PES contributes to a more efficient and productive labor market. See resources

Supporting
Employers

policies iconPES gather and analyze labor market data to provide insights into job trends, skills demand, and employment prospects. This information benefits job seekers, employers, and policymakers, enabling informed decision-making. They also play a crucial role in shaping labor market policies by providing data, research, insights, and recommendations to policymakers, governments, and other stakeholders. See resources

Providing Labor
Market Information and Informing Policy

Resources

Access resources by function or by country.

Introduction – Design

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

PES Review United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Assessment and Enrollment

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Intermediation

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

PES Review Database

Austria, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Denmark, Chile, South Korea

Outreach and Intake

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Provision of Benefits and Services

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Better Public Employment Services

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

PES Review United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Introduction – Design

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Provision of Benefits and Services

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Assessment and Enrollment

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Intermediation

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Monitoring and Evaluation

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Better Public Employment Services

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

PES Review Database

Austria, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Denmark, Chile, South Korea

Profiling Systems

Austria, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, South Korea, Germany, Slovenia, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, United States, Canada, Swtizerland

Statistical Profiling

Australia, Ireland, Netherlands, United States

PES Review United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Introduction – Design

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Intermediation

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Monitoring and Evaluation

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

PES Review Database

Austria, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Denmark, Chile, South Korea

Provision of Benefits and Services

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Training Programs

Austria, Chile, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

Training Programs Review

Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

PES Review United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Assessment and Enrollment

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Activation Policies

Switzerland, Sweden

Intermediation

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Introduction – Design

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Monitoring and Evaluation

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

PES Review Database

Austria, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Denmark, Chile, South Korea

Provision of Benefits and Services

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Training Programs

Austria, Chile, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

Training Programs Review

Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

PES Review United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Assessment and Enrollment

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Better Public Employment Services

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Intermediation

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Introduction – Design

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

PES Review Database

Austria, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Denmark, Chile, South Korea

Intermediation

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Introduction – Design

Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom

PES Review Database

Austria, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Denmark, Chile, South Korea

Profiling Systems

Austria, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, South Korea, Germany, Slovenia, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, United States, Canada, Swtizerland

Statistical Profiling

Australia, Ireland, Netherlands, United States

PES Worldwide

In this section you can access resources about PES and the delivery chain across countries. This global and comparative approach can help you understand how the PES operates in each country and identifying innovative practices.

Click or select the country you want to know more about.