PESPod #24: AI, Algorithms and Digital Trends

In this episode, host David Poyser is joined by two guests to discuss how PES can utilise AI to enhance service delivery, improve operational efficiency, and discuss key learnings and best practices that PES can adopt when designing and implementing AI.

Joining him is Dr Willem Pieterson, author of the recently published PES Network Report 'Opportunities of AI within PES processes and services' exploring how these technologies can enhance service delivery, improve operational efficiency, and ultimately better serve jobseekers and employers. .

The second guest is Andreas Henningsson, Senior Strategist and Product Area Manager for AI and Data at Arbetsförmedlingen (the Swedish PES). Andreas shares how Sweden is innovatively using AI to match jobseekers with an expanded range of vacancies they might not have previously considered, by identifying transferable skills with hard and soft competencies. For example, this method could allow a data scientist to be matched to other roles in sales, education and other sectors.

Key topics discussed include:

• AI adoption challenges: PES can underestimate the complexities and time required for implementation and can focus on siloed applications rather than the need for the holistic integration of AI into existing workflows
• Future trends for AI in PES: including the potential for Artificial Intelligence to provide reliable labour market information.
• Advice for PES looking to implement and advance usage of AI: noting the need to start designing from clear business need or a problem-solving perspective rather than an AI-first perspective.
• Future developments in Sweden: including leveraging knowledge graphs and generative AI to detect and prevent fraud.

Listen to the episode:

Click here to listen to the full episode of PESPod 24: AI, Algorithms and Digital Trends.

If you have any comments about this episode of PESPod or would like to suggest relevant topics for future episodes, write to: EMPL-PES-SECRETARIATec[dot] europa[dot] eu(EMPL-PES-SECRETARIAT[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

PES Network Webinar: Opportunities of AI within PES processes and services

The transformative potential of AI was also explored in the PES Network's recent webinar held in March 2025.

Dr Willem Pieterson, researcher and author of the PES Network report, and Anne Lauringson, Labour Market Economist at the OECD - OCDE, presented the findings of their respective reports on how AI is currently being used in PES. They were joined by colleagues from the French PES, France Travail, and from the Estonian PES, Eesti Töötukassa, who shared their innovative AI practices.

The webinar also features insights from the PES Network's report on AI, real-world applications from PES across Europe, and key findings from the OECD's studyon PES service delivery in the age of AI

View the webinar here.

Read the report:

The PES Network Report 'Opportunities of AI within PES processes and services' helps PES practitioners understand the benefits and challenges of AI, drawing on insights from early adopters. The report can be viewed here.

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