The PES Network’s sixth and seventh thematic learning dialogues both focused on recent practices and the latest thinking in the appropriate and effective use of improved profiling in the delivery of public employment services. They were hosted by the French and German PES respectively.

Across both dialogues, the main question was how client data can be used to improve matching between job seekers and job offers.

Other topics were the technical challenges of creating algorithms to develop automatic profiles, how to use information to generate practical solutions for service users and the role of automatisation in the process.

The dialogues also raised important broader issues that PES need to take into account, including the need to build the trust of both staff and service users around the use of data, as well as potential legal and ethical issues such as the risk that automated systems become discriminatory.

The training needs of staff and the necessity of balancing data requirements with the administrative burden of lengthy questionnaires were also discussed.

An important observation from the learning dialogues is that PES across Europe are at very different places with the development of their profiling and segmentation efforts and the extent to which they are attempting to automatise steps of the process.

Indeed, while some PES stress the advantages of working with algorithms and big data, others swear by a simpler system of questionnaires combined with a high quality coaching service. Despite these differences, all PES convene that the final decisions should still be taken by counsellors together with jobseekers.

The national cultural and legal context is often crucial to informing differences in approach. Nevertheless, there are many common issues where PES can continue to benefit from sharing their experiences.

The PES Network’s thematic learning dialogues on this topic were held in Noisy le Grand (France), 24-25 September 2019 and Nuremberg (Germany), 8-9 October 2019.

The French event brought PES representatives from Estonia, Spain, and Sweden into discussions with the host PES ‘Pôle emploi’. Additional coaching and support was provided by Belgium (VDAB).  

The German TLD brought representatives from France, Norway, Portugal, and Romania to discuss with the host PES, Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA). Luxemburg and Lithuania provided additional coaching and support.

For further information on profiling and segmentation, please consult the documents linked below.

• Analytical paper - Skills-based profiling and matching in PES
• Promising PES Practice - Piloting Statistically Assisted Profiling (StAP)
• PES Practice - Profiling of jobseekers using statistical methods
• PES Practice - Combined Econometric and Self-Assessment Motivational Profiling of jobseekers
• Promising PES Practice - Reduction of segmentation groups based on an integration prediction