From data to action: how public employment services are strengthening their role in labour market governance

WAPES has published the report of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop, which focuses on labour market information systems as the foundation for governance and service delivery within public employment services.

Organised online on 21 April 2026 by WAPES and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, this workshop brought together 106 participants from 26 countries. It provided an opportunity to exchange different perspectives on how public employment services can strengthen their role as key players in labour market governance through more effective use of data, evidence and digital tools.

The report highlights several concrete examples. The ILO’s contribution emphasised the importance of high-frequency data for better understanding economic shocks and tailoring employment policy responses. The example of PERKESO in Malaysia shows how big data, matching algorithms and the continuous updating of occupational taxonomies can improve the match between skills, job vacancies and market needs. The experience presented by India highlights the role of job portals in analysing the skills in demand, organising job fairs and directing people towards training or reskilling initiatives. Finally, the case of Japan illustrates the value of integrated systems capable of linking job placement services, advisory services, training, insurance and administrative data.

Beyond the tools themselves, the discussions served as a reminder that information systems should not merely collect data: they must help to build a comprehensive, useful and shared understanding of the labour market.

WAPES members are invited to read the report and to continue the discussion that began at the workshop.