Launch Event – The World of Public Employment Services 2026

Online | 9 June 2026

We are pleased to invite you to the launch event of The World of Public Employment Services 2026, a joint publication by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES).

📅 June 9, 2026
🕘 9:00 – 11:00 AM (EST)
📍 Hybrid event – IDB Headquarters (Washington, DC) & Online
👉 Register here:INSCRIPTION

As labor markets undergo rapid transformations—driven by demographic and technological change, more frequent economic shocks, persistent skills mismatches, and widening inequality—strong and modern Public Employment Services (PES) can play an important role in supporting labor market transitions throughout the life course, enhancing skills and employability, connecting employers with talent, and ultimately boosting productivity, competitiveness, and economic resilience.

In this context, the IDB, OECD, and WAPES have developed a new publication: The World of Public Employment Services 2026. The publication presents evidence on the current state of public employment services worldwide, as well as the challenges and opportunities they face.

This high-level event will bring together global leaders and experts to present key findings from one of the most extensive international analyses of PES to date—based on a large-scale survey—and to reflect on what comes next.

What to expect

The event will combine insights, evidence, and forward-looking dialogue through a dynamic program:

• Opening remarks by Ilan Goldfajn (President, IDB), Mathias Cormann (Secretary-General, OECD), and Greta Metka Barbo Škerbinc (President, WAPES), officially launching the publication.
• Presentation of key findings from The World of Public Employment Services 2026, featuring insights from leading experts at IDB (Dulce Baptista, Senior Labor Market Specialist), OECD (Karen Maguire, Senior Counsellor, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities), and WAPES (Federico Araya, National Director of Employment of Uruguay). Vice-Président Amériques de WAPES).
• High-level panel discussion, moderated by Jason Marczak (Atlantic Council), bringing together leading voices from academia, international organizations, and the private sector – including Sébastien Van Dyk (ManpowerGroup and World Employment Confederation), María Antonia Agudo (Spanish Public Employment Service), among others, to discuss how to translate evidence into action.
• Closing reflections and networking, offering an opportunity for exchange and collaboration.

The event will convene policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and international partners from across regions, offering a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge evidence and global perspectives.

We would be delighted to have you join us for this important discussion. Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues who may be interested.
We look forward to your participation in this important event.

Kind regards,
BID / OECD / WAPES