The Public Employment Services (PES) Network has just released a Synthesis Paper capturing the outcomes of the Annual Stakeholder Conference, “Partnerships in shaping and delivering employment services”, held on 21 October 2025 in Brussels.

The conference explored how partnerships can enhance the design, delivery, and impact of employment services across Europe and brought together 142 participants representing public employment services (PES) (including enlargement countries), social partners, private employment services (PrES), employers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), training providers, international organisations, European Union (EU) agencies, and the European Commission.

The labour market context

Against the backdrop of the triple transition (green, digital and demographic transitions), the global and EU labour markets require additional resources if they are to leave no one behind, address skills mismatches, and close skills gaps. Building employment service ecosystems that can access a larger network of actors and improved data places PES in a better position to source jobs, match jobseekers with quality jobs, and upskill or reskill.

Speakers and workshop leads presented a range of practices, from collaboration with employers and third-sector organisations to the use of data, digital tools and different contracting models.

The Synthesis Paper brings together the main challenges and learnings from these exchanges, highlighting how partnerships are evolving to respond to changing user needs.

Key insights and conclusions:

  • Partnerships should focus on job quality, retention and progression. In a context of labour and skills shortages, cooperation is most effective when it prioritises sustainable employment outcomes – including job quality, in-work retention and opportunities for progression – rather than short-term placements alone.
  • Strengthen collaboration through monitoring and transparent data exchange. Regular monitoring, feedback mechanisms and secure data sharing between PES, providers and employers support better matching, service adjustment and long-term workforce planning. Contributors emphasised the importance of clear governance and legal safeguards, which are essential to build trust and enable effective use of data.
  • Digital tools can extend reach, but human support remains central. AI-driven digital and AI-supported tools can help PES work at scale and support more tailored services, particularly in matching and profiling. At the same time, contributors emphasised that technology should complement, not replace, counsellors, especially for jobseekers with complex needs who benefit from personalised guidance.
  • Use flexible funding models that recognise gradual progress. Evidence from member states indicates that financial frameworks that reward intermediate steps as well as final employment outcomes help partners support people with complex barriers and reduce the risk of exclusion. Flexible contracting also encourages innovation and longer-term engagement.
  • Position PES as ecosystem coordinators, supported by EU frameworks. With adequate resources, PES can align employers, education and training providers, municipalities and civil society around shared objectives and coherent service pathways. EU initiatives, including the Fair Labour Mobility Package, the Union of Skills and the Anti-Poverty Strategy, provide an enabling framework to support and scale these partnerships.

Further information

Read the synthesis paper here to find out more about the 2025 PES Annual Stakeholder Conference.

The PES Network Knowledge Centre and PES Practices database also have a wide range of information and inspiring practices on the organization and services of Public Employment Services across Europe.

Watch the Conference videos:

  • The PES Network Stakeholder Conference highlights video
  • Sonja van Lieshout on shaping the future of PES partnerships
  • Miguel Peromingo on current trends of partnerships with private employment services
  • Maarten Camps on the value of forming partnerships

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