Employees in this restaurant kitchen found work with the help of Shaw Trust. The national charity is one of the largest third sector providers of employment services for disabled and disadvantaged people in the UK.
The employee in this restaurant kitchen found work with the help of one of the largest third sector providers of employment services for disabled and disadvantaged people in the UK. © ILO

In today's labour market, employment services and other active labour market policies are key to strengthening national economies—connecting job seekers with employers, improving employability and job retention, and supporting enterprises.

As technological advancements and multiple crises reshape labour markets, public employment services and private employment agencies help individuals and businesses alike to effectively cope with, and build resilience for, labour market disruptions. From providing support to workers when they lose their jobs or navigate career transitions, to assisting employers in recruiting talent and reskilling staff, employment services are at the very foundation of efficient, inclusive, and well-functioning labour markets.

News and articles

Request for bids: Survey on working conditions and social protection coverage in the platform economy in the Philippines
Placeholder image

Informal economy

Request for bids: Survey on working conditions and social protection coverage in the platform economy in the Philippines

ILO strengthens capacity of national employment services centres in Indonesia through specialized training on counselling techniques
Public Employment Services counsellors training in Jakarta

Employment promotion and South-South cooperation

ILO strengthens capacity of national employment services centres in Indonesia through specialized training on counselling techniques

Global Report Part I: Public employment services and active labour market policies for transitions

Global Report Part I: Public employment services and active labour market policies for transitions

Public employment services have a central role in responding to crises and fostering recovery to ensure efficient and well-functioning labour markets. This first global report by the ILO on public employment services explores their role in mitigating the labour market disruptions stemming from crises.

Publications

Factsheet: Ratification of ILO Employment Services Conventions

#RatifyC88 #RatifyC181

Factsheet: Ratification of ILO Employment Services Conventions

How to ratify ILO Conventions No. 88 on Employment Services and No. 181 on Private Employment Agencies

Step by step guide

How to ratify ILO Conventions No. 88 on Employment Services and No. 181 on Private Employment Agencies

Public employment services and active labour market policies for transitions: Responses to mega trends and crises

Global Report Part I

Public employment services and active labour market policies for transitions: Responses to mega trends and crises

Guides and tools

PES Diagnostic tool and guide

Public employment services (PES) are core labour market institutions, facilitating labour market participation to achieve full employment.

The ILO's PES diagnostic tool and guide helps PES identify areas they excel at, and helps determine potential opportunities for closing gaps and adapting to rapid changes in the labour market.

International labour standards on employment services

A framework for effective public and private employment services is provided by two international labour standards: the Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) and the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181).

The ILO provides its Member States with the technical assistance needed to ratify and implement both conventions to benefit all: workers, employers, and governments.

Ratification resources

How to ratify Employment Services Conventions

How to ratify Employment Services Conventions

Why ratify Convention No. 88

Why ratify Convention No. 88

Why ratify Convention No. 181

Why ratify Convention No. 181

FAQs on Employment Services Conventions

FAQs on Employment Services Conventions

Country case studies

Ethiopia
Worker in rose plantation in Ethiopia

Ethiopia

France
Employment counsellor in France

France

Japan
Older worker in a leather bag manufacturing workshop

Japan

Nigeria
Better jobs for women: for 1 US$ a day, Grace cleans the windows of a building under construction on the seaside of Dar Es Salaam.

Nigeria

Panama
Man receives employment and training opportunities in grounds maintenance, landscaping services, and horticulture from third sector provider of employment services in the UK.

Panama

Uruguay
This secretary has benefited from the help of employment and vocational training services for disabled people in the UK

Uruguay

Contact

The ILO supports Member States and constituents to strengthen their capacity to develop, implement, and monitor employment services and active labour market policies.

Contact employmentservices@ilo.org for more information.

Learn more about

Employment promotion
woman working

Employment promotion

Employment Policy Action Facility
Cover for EPAF decorative_2024_en

Employment Policy Action Facility

Employment, Labour Markets, and Youth Branch
Young female worker from Tanzania_2026_en

EMPLAB

Employment, Labour Markets, and Youth Branch

ILO Employment Policy, Job Creation and Livelihoods Department
Two men painting on a building

ILO Employment Policy, Job Creation and Livelihoods Department