PESPod - the insiders' guide to the EU labour market

The latest episode of PESPod – the podcast of the European Network of Public Employment Services (PES Network) – shines a light on the strides being made in Regional Work Centres across the Netherlands.

Maarten Camps, Chair of the Board at UWV, the Social Security and Public Employment Agency of the Netherlands, shares how these new hubs could strengthen the labour market in the Netherlands.

In the episode, Mr Camps delves into the efforts made by UWV to enhance collaboration between municipalities, private partners, and other key stakeholders in the labour market. While the country’s unemployment rate is at a historic low of 3.7%, there is still room to expand job participation. Regional Work Centres can play a central role by offering support to those facing challenges related to disabilities, age, or inadequate skills.

Ms Balnanosienė's journey into the realm of employment services is not just a career choice but a legacy linked to her family history. Reflecting on her roots, she fondly recalls her grandparents, whose dedication to public service instilled in her a passion for helping others and contributing to her country. As she puts it, "New challenges are a great opportunity also for me as a person to grow every day.”

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the PES Network has developed an environment for knowledge-sharing and mutual support. Ms Balnanosienė commends the willingness of colleagues to share experiences and innovations, a sentiment echoed in her own commitment to the PES Network.

A pivotal aspect of the conversation revolves around the future of employment services amidst the twin green and digital transitions. Ms Balnanosienė outlines the importance of adapting to evolving skill demands. For instance, Lithuania has introduced an initiative to launch regional career centres aimed at guiding individuals toward occupations aligned with future needs. Furthermore, she sheds light on the integration of artificial intelligence, with projects like the statistical profiling system and the introduction of PES’s digital colleague "Emma," which stands for Empathetic, Polite and Responsible in Lithuanian.

Ms Balnanosienė's leadership extends beyond her role as the First Vice Chair, as she spearheads the PES Network's Communications Working Group, a shared learning format where members come together to develop ways for the PES Network to improve its communication activities and for PES to share what they are doing to reach out to citizens.

Wrapping up, Ms Balnanosienė extends a message of unity and visibility for the PES Network, positioning it as a source of cooperation and advancement in the European employment landscape.

If you have any comments about this episode of PESPod or relevant topics for future episodes, write to: [email protected].

The latest PESPod episode explores persistent challenges faced by PES in Europe, including skills shortages and the transformative impact of the European Year of Skills, as well as how Greece is tackling the skills challenge and fostering a fair and inclusive labour market. Spiros Protopsaltis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greek Public Employment Service (DYPA), provides insights and navigates through critical issues, offering solutions and discussing promising strategic initiatives.

Spiros Protopsaltis underscored the transformative impact of the European Year of Skills, which runs until May 2024. He noted a surge in awareness and stresses the need for substantial investments in upskilling and reskilling programmes throughout Europe. According to him, there is an urgent need to bridge existing gaps and prepare the workforce for the demands of a rapidly changing job market.

He emphasised the positive impact of the European Year of Skills in Greece, which, coupled with significant resources from the ESF and the Recovery and Resilience Facility, has allowed Greece to undertake large-scale initiatives. These include the modernisation of vocational schools and a record-breaking upskilling and reskilling programme for the unemployed.

Protopsaltis points to a success story in Greece in upskilling on digital and green skills, noting this requires investment. “In one year, 220,000 unemployed persons have been trained and certified in digital or green skills. It's a massive programme funded with a billion EUR from the recovery, and it has become our flagship initiative during this past year,” he said.

Protopsaltis also discussed Greece’s efforts in addressing a skills mismatch through a strategic emphasis on vocational education. He underscores the importance of aligning educational curricula with the dynamic needs of the job market to ensure a more harmonious integration of skilled people in the workforce.

DYPA faces challenges as it navigates the complexities of digitalisation, impending workforce retirements, and the need to adapt to unpredictable external shocks. Protopsaltis highlights the importance of modernising PES systems to effectively address these challenges.

In the podcast, Protopsaltis advocated for the enhancement of equal opportunities as a priority in workforce development. In order to achieve this, he stressed the need to provide broader access and increased mobility to address restrictions on career pathways.

Protopsaltis’s insights highlight the importance of adaptability, strategic investments, and training for the PES Network. He underlined the need for attitudinal changes towards vocational education and training to address skill mismatches effectively in order to meet the labour market demands of the future.

If you have any comments about this episode of PESPod or relevant topics for future episodes, write to us at: [email protected].

The latest PESPod episode #19 features the Chair of the PES Network, Caroline Mancel, discussing her background and what hopes and ambitions she has for the Network. Mancel, who assumed the role of PES Network Chair in July 2023, while continuing her role as Deputy Director General of Brussels-based PES Actiris, provides valuable insights into her journey, challenges faced by the European labour market, and next steps on her agenda. Mancel's background in international relations as well as her passion for fostering collaboration and making tangible progress shine through as she discusses the challenges facing the current labour market, such as skills shortages and mismatches, and the importance of addressing them: "We are really facing skills and labour shortages in the labour market, and we have started mapping how PES are measuring shortages across the EU. That's the first step to take, and now we're discussing a possible common approach…For all these challenges, we are really trying to embrace them in a very holistic way." She also acknowledges the European Year of Skills as a positive initiative by the European Commission during the podcast episode, saying that she believes the Year of Skills offers an opportunity to prioritise skills development. Not to be missed, the PES Network has contributed to the discourse with a paper on the European Year of Skills. Emphasising the importance of supporting the shift to green jobs, Mancel discussed the PES Network paper on support to greening the labour market. The paper explores how PES are adapting to the green labour market by mitigating its impact, supporting green industries, and addressing skill needs through various approaches, including partnerships and incentives. Mancel also emphasises the significance of European solidarity, mutual trust among PES members, and fostering concrete partnerships with stakeholders. Her commitment to creating a culture of value and importance within the PES Network highlights her leadership approach, promising a positive impact on employment services in Europe as they navigate the evolving labour market. With a focus on addressing labour market challenges, fostering partnerships, and promoting lifelong learning, Mancel shares that she aims to enhance the effectiveness of European Public Employment Services and benefit job seekers and employers alike. Download and listen to the 19th episode of PESPod wherever you listen to your podcasts including here. If you have any comments about this episode of PESPod or relevant topics for future episodes, write to us at: [email protected].