Annual Report 2025 and upcoming priorities for the PES Network

Delivering the 2025 Work Programme

2025 has been a year of transitions for the Network, with the appointment of a new Chair and first Vice-Chair.

Activities focused on anticipating labour market needs through labour market and skills intelligence, strengthening career guidance and skills-based approaches in PES services. Work also addressed early interventions, job-to-job transitions and partnerships with private employment services.

The Network supported PES' efforts on green skills and jobs through a toolkit addressing skills needs linked to the green transition. Fair recruitment of third-country nationals was another focus, with PES sharing practices on pre-departure orientation, employer cooperation and post-arrival integration.

Digitalisation remained a core priority. The Network published a study and produced a podcast exploring the transformative potential of AI on PES, whilst a dedicated Working Group helped develop a common framework for ethical standards for AI use in PES. Benchlearning remained central to Network activities, with the fourth cycle of assessments progressing throughout 2025 to support PES modernisation.

The PES Network also contributed to EU policy initiatives, including through an Opinion paper on the review of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan review and discussions on the Fair Labour Mobility Package.

Looking ahead

Upskilling and reskilling will remain on top of the Network's agenda in 2026, with continued work on taxonomies to support skills portability. This will involve establishing synergies with initiatives such as the Anti-Poverty Strategy, the Skills Portability Initiative and the Fair Labour Mobility Package. Preparations will continue for the fifth cycle of Benchlearning, while the 2026 PES Network Stakeholder Conference will focus on the future of PES, including PES agility, adaptation to an evolving labour market context.

Further information

Read the full Annual Report 2025 and the Work Programme 2026.

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

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Don't miss the PESPod podcast, featuring guests from across the Network exploring the latest issues, topics and perspective being talked about by Public Employment Services across Europe. Listen to the latest episode here.

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