Subcontracting in public employment services: review of research findings and literature on recent trends and business models

This report reviews literature and impact studies on employment services subcontracting in Europe. Most of the studies available concern a limited number of countries where changes in subcontracting practices have been part of wider PES and welfare state reforms. The report reviews the development of subcontracting systems in the three countries subject to the most detailed studies – Britain, Germany and the Netherlands. It also reviews findings from twelve impact studies that analysed the impact of subcontracted services in these three countries and in France and Sweden.