Ecorys evaluates Public Employment Services Network
The European Commission has engaged international advisory firm Ecorys to evaluate its Public Employment Services Network. The findings from Ecorys have been used to highlight areas of strength and weakness, as well as evidence to back the Commission’s decision to continue its network until 2027.
Ecorys has worked on a number of high-profile public sector projects lately. Earlier in 2019, the professional services firm was tasked with overseeing the management of a £2.7 million fund to increase support for disadvantaged families, working with charity Family Lives to assess applications for funding from projects on and offline which will support families at risk of parental conflict.
Last year, the firm was recruited by the UK Government to evaluate Regional Adoption Agencies in England. The firm subsequently collaborated with the University of Bristol to examine the effectiveness of the new scheme – aimed at helping children find new, supportive homes more quickly – on behalf of the Department for Education. The consultancy also managed a £5 million pot aimed at supporting women’s rights groups during the 100th anniversary of female suffrage in Britain.
Now, the firm has worked with the European Commission to evaluate its Public Employment Services (PES) Network. In EU countries, PES organisations are the authorities that connect jobseekers with employers. Although structured differently in each country, all PES branches help match supply and demand on the labour market through information, placement and active support services at local, national and European level.
Ecorys has subsequently examined the PES Network as a whole, with the aim of increasing cooperation and solidarity between stakeholders (EU Commission, PES of all EU Member States, along with those in Norway and Iceland). The study ultimately aims to enhance their performance and prepare for future labour market challenges and reinforce capacity, effectiveness and efficiency.
Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour mobility, stated, “The EU PES Network is a successful example of European collaboration at its best. I am convinced this EU cooperation and exchange of best practices and mutual learning will be all the more important in the future to tackle the challenges of the future of work. We need to draw from the best experiences in addressing the skills gap, working closely with employers and supporting the youth. In all this, the consultation of and input from the PES to the EU policy-making will be more valuable than ever!”
The evaluation highlighted that the PES Network has an important voice for the development, implementation and monitoring of both EU and national policies and initiatives in the field of employment. The findings of the evaluation contributed to the Commission’s decision to extend the PES Network until 2027.
