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:
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.
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.
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.
PES Functions
Click on each to learn more about this function, best practices, and how other countries are doing this.
The 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
PES 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
Recognizing 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
PES 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
In 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
PES 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.
PES Review Australia
Australia
PES Review Austria
Austria
PES Review Chile
Chile
PES Review Denmark
Denmark
PES Review France
France
PES Review Germany
Germany
PES Review Ireland
Ireland
PES Review Korea
Korea
PES Review Netherlands
Netherlands
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 Australia
Australia
PES Review Austria
Austria
PES Review Chile
Chile
PES Review Denmark
Denmark
PES Review France
France
PES Review Germany
Germany
PES Review Ireland
Ireland
PES Review Netherlands
Netherlands
PES Review Korea
Korea
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
Different Approaches in Delivering Employment Services and Setting Private Public Partnerships
Australia, Germany, the Netherlands
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
Statistical Profiling Literature Review
Australia, Netherlands, United States, Ireland, Austria, Spain
PES Review Australia
Australia
PES Review Austria
Austria
PES Review Chile
Chile
PES Review Denmark
Denmark
PES Review France
France
PES Review Germany
Germany
PES Review Ireland
Ireland
PES Review Korea
Korea
PES Review Netherlands
Netherlands
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
PES Review Australia
Australia
PES Review Austria
Austria
PES Review Chile
Chile
PES Review Denmark
Denmark
PES Review France
France
PES Review Germany
Germany
PES Review Ireland
Ireland
PES Review Korea
Korea
PES Review Netherlands
Netherlands
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
Different Approaches in Delivering Employment Services and Setting Private Public Partnerships
Australia, Germany, the Netherlands
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 Australia
Australia
PES Review Austria
Austria
PES Review Chile
Chile
PES Review Denmark
Denmark
PES Review France
France
PES Review Germany
Germany
PES Review Ireland
Ireland
PES Review Korea
Korea
PES Review Netherlands
Netherlands
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
Investing in Labor Market Information Systems
Indonesia, Singapore
PES Review Australia
Australia
Intermediation
Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, South Korea, Netherlands, United Kingdom
PES Review Austria
Austria
PES Review Chile
Chile
PES Review Denmark
Denmark
PES Review Germany
Germany
PES Review France
France
PES Review Korea
Korea
PES Review Ireland
Ireland
PES Review Netherlands
Netherlands
PES Review United Kingdom
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
Statistical Profiling Literature Review
Australia, Netherlands, United States, Ireland, Austria, Spain
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.
Featured Resources
The Cases of Australia, Germany, and The Netherlands