During the 20th Public Employment Services (PES) Network Board Meeting, held on 14-15 December in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, heads of PES engaged in a comprehensive two-day session, looking at addressing labour market challenges in the coming years including upskilling and reskilling as well addressing the impact of demographic changes. The gathering marked the inaugural session for Caroline Mancel as the new PES Network Chair and a farewell for Spiros Protopsaltis as the First Vice-Chair, who will be succeeded by Inga Balnasosiene in January 2024.

The 20th PES Network Board Meeting, hosted under the Spanish Presidency, provided a platform for strategic planning to address evolving labour market challenges, laying the groundwork for collaborative efforts to come in 2024 for European PES. “We chose Gran Granaria as the location for the 20th PES Board Meeting to recall the challenges – but also the opportunities –  that are being experienced across all European territory, transcending continental borders.” said Gerardo Gutiérrez Ardoy, Director-General of the Spanish Public Employment Service SEPE.

The impact of demographic changes on the labour market was discussed in a session introduced by Spanish economist José Moisés Martín Carretero. The discussion highlighted that demographic change is a key driver behind labour shortages and requires more attention. Efforts to reshape support for those further from the labour market featured in discussions, covering innovative approaches to help close employment rate gaps and support older workers, women, and migrants. Active Labour Market Policies have a key role to play here, but are not yet fit for the challenge.

Ahead of the European elections in June 2024 and the appointment of a new College of Commissioners in the autumn, Caroline Mancel, Chair of the PES Network invited Board Members to discuss key elements of a PES Network Memo on “Labour market challenges and policy solutions for the years ahead”. “I believe that PES are perfectly placed to monitor and anticipate upcoming labour market challenges, providing concrete policy advice from the ground. This is what the PES Network will seek to achieve with this Memo, to be finalised in Spring 2024.” said Caroline Mancel.

The agenda also addressed the European Year of Skills and the pivotal role of PES in upskilling and reskilling measures, in a context where only 37% of adults take part in training every year and 74% of SMEs faced skills shortages in 2023. More than 1700 events are planned so far in the context of the European Year, whereby PES can play a key role.

The Board adopted the 2023 Annual Report, highlighting 16 mutual learning activities leading to 18 learning resources. Looking ahead, the Board also adopted the 2024 Work Programme. PES Network activities in 2024 will focus, among others, on attracting skills and talents from third countries, PES’ role in supporting the green transition, measuring labour shortages, rethinking support to those furthest from the labour market, applying AI in data-driven digitalisation strategies, improving skills and labour market intelligence as well as partnerships with private employment services. Finally, as the PES Network celebrates its 10^th anniversary since its inception in 2014, 2024 will also see the launch and delivery of the 4th cycle of Benchlearning assessment visits.