AI and digitalisation in public employment services: WAPES publishes the report from its International Working Group workshop in Brussels
On 25 and 26 March 2026, WAPES brought together representatives from public employment services, researchers, institutional partners and experts in Brussels to further explore the role of artificial intelligence and digital transformation within public employment services. Today, WAPES is making the report from this workshop available, a document that summarises the key takeaways from these two days of work and invites further collective reflection.
A workshop building on the WAPES International Working Group initiated in 2025
The Brussels workshop builds on the work of the WAPES International Working Group on AI & Digitalisation in Public Employment Services, launched in 2025. This international group regularly brings its members together virtually to discuss ongoing transformations, share national experiences and pool best practices. The in-person meeting in Brussels provided an opportunity to deepen this work in a more operational context, drawing on concrete cases, thematic discussions and feedback.
Practical insights for public employment services
The report highlights a key message: AI and digitalisation are not merely technical choices. They also raise questions of organisation, ethics, trust, transparency and skills. It emphasises the importance of preserving human judgement, strengthening teams’ capabilities and ensuring that digital tools fully support the public service mission of PES.
We invite you to read the full report and watch the video of the workshop to discover the key insights emerging from this international cooperation initiative.