Linking social protection and PES through system interoperability

Overview

This report explores how digital interoperability can strengthen coordination between social protection systems and public employment services (PES), with a focus on improving service integration, labour market outcomes, and access to income support. Conducted under the Digital Convergence Initiative (DCI), the study combines a desk-based review of academic literature, policy reports and institutional publications with in-depth analysis of three country case studies from Chile, the Republic of Korea and Türkiye, illustrating different purposes, models and levels of collaboration, and drawing lessons for future efforts in this area.

Why this publication matters:

The analysis is motivated by the persistent fragmentation of social protection and employment services, despite their shared objective of supporting individuals facing labour market risks. While both systems often serve overlapping populations, they frequently operate in parallel, with limited coordination and data exchange. At the same time, the expansion of digital ecosystems – including interoperable platforms, shared data infrastructure, and digital identification systems – offers new opportunities to bridge these divides.

Key findings:

• Core concepts underpinning social protection systems and PES and their linkages relate
• Benefits of collaboration and digital interoperability
  Examples different models of collaboration, grouped by institutional entry point
• Lessons for strengthening interoperability in different contexts
• Country case studies from Chile, the Republic of Korea, and Türkiye available as standalone downloads 

Required citation:

ILO & DCI. 2026. Linking Social Protection and Public Employment Services (PES) Through System Interoperability. International Labour Organization.