Matching Talent to the Jobs of Tomorrow A Guidebook for Public Employment Services 2025

Executive summary A guidebook on innovative technology solutions for better labour market outcomes. The rapid advancement of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is transforming job matching, enabling real- time labour market analysis, automated resume screening, and skills-based matching beyond traditional keyword searches. Public employment services have long played a crucial role in connecting jobseekers with opportunities, driving workforce alignment, and advancing reskilling initiatives to improve employment outcomes. However, public employment services face significant barriers to effective job matching. These include skills misalignment due to the absence of standardized frameworks, fragmented and inaccessible data sources that limit real-time labour market insights, and resistance to adopting emerging technologies. Technological innovations present an opportunity to overcome these obstacles. Yet, many public employment services worldwide have yet to fully adopt advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in job matching. This guidebook offers a practical framework, actionable guidance and real-world case studies to support policy-makers in implementing and scaling technological solutions, ultimately driving better alignment between skills and opportunities. A tailored data-driven framework  The guidebook outlines a five-step framework for public employment services to enhance job matching using data: (1) data access and collection, (2) data structuring and standardization, (3) data validation, (4) upskilling and reskilling, and (5) effective matching. Scalable solutions for better job matching Data is at the core of the framework, empowering public employment services to harness technologies such as AI and ML for more efficient and effective job matching. While these solutions can be capital-intensive and require a highly skilled workforce, countries can begin with cost-effective, low-tech options such as SMS-based tools. These practical approaches enable public employment services to address immediate needs while building capacity to adopt more advanced technologies. The guidebook highlights a range of advanced and cost-effective solutions for public employment services to improve the job matching process. Insights from real-world case studies Implementing innovative job matching requires a flexible approach to address the diverse needs of public employment services across countries. Six country-level case studies illustrate how public employment services with varying levels of technological maturity harness technologies to address their unique job matching challenges. These case studies highlight the importance of balancing innovative technologies with a human-centred approach to foster meaningful connections, minimize biases and ensure cultural relevance. Strengthening public-private collaboration is essential to align workforce supply with demand, and drive sector- wide innovation. The adoption of standardized skills frameworks provides a foundation for inclusive labour market insights and supports dynamic workforce planning. Viewing job matching as an interconnected system allows for targeted improvements in one area to create ripple effects, ultimately boosting overall labour market efficiency. Through these strategies, public employment services can navigate the complexities of job matching and create a more agile and responsive labour market. Matching Talent to the Jobs of Tomorrow: A Guidebook for Public Employment Services 4