Strengthening labour market performance and improving the effectiveness of employment services is a key policy objective across OECD countries. This report, the 20‑second in the OECD’s Connecting People with Jobs series, provides evidence‑based analysis and policy guidance to help Italy design and deliver more inclusive and efficient active labour market policies. The report is produced under the project “Strengthening public-private partnerships in the delivery of employment services in Italy”. It was funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument and implemented in co‑operation with the European Commission.
The project responds to longstanding challenges in Italy’s labour market governance, including fragmentation in the delivery of services across regions and the need to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of public employment services. The project develops a new model for the provision of contracted-out active labour market policies (ALMPs) in Italy to address these issues, with a particular focus on strengthening public-private partnerships.
Building on an in-depth analysis of existing programmes – in particular the Workers’ Employability Guarantee Programme (Garanzia di Occupabilità dei Lavoratori, GOL) – and drawing on international experience across OECD countries, this report proposes a new public-private model for employment services in Italy. The aim is to support the development of a more coherent, accountable and performance‑oriented system of public-private partnerships, capable of delivering high-quality, personalised support to jobseekers while respecting Italy’s decentralised institutional framework.
The report is based on extensive consultations with national and regional authorities, employment service providers and other stakeholders. It is intended to inform ongoing and planned reforms and support the Italian authorities in strengthening their capacity to design, implement and oversee effective employment services, ultimately contributing to improved labour market outcomes and more inclusive growth.
The report was drafted by Stewart Butler, Olga Rastrigina and Matija Vodopivec. Ella Westlake contributed significant desk research, with Dana Blumin providing statistical support and Natalie Cory and Hanna Varkki providing editorial support. The report was prepared under the supervision of Theodora Xenogiani. The authors are particularly grateful to the Advisory Group members (Laila Bauleo, Valentina Castello, Mafalda D’Onofrio, Elisa Gómez Alemán, Alessandra Proto and Emiliano Rustichelli) for their continued support, engagement, enthusiasm and creativity during the many discussions over the course of the project. Thanks are given also to the numerous stakeholders in Italy, who have contributed their time and expertise to enrich the development of the analysis and proposals contained in the report. The report is also available in Italian, translated by Silvia Brizi Mariotti who has also provided interpretation services during the project.