Trade-offs and dilemmas in public-private cooperation: marketization of employment services in Denmark

Abstract

How has public-private cooperation in the employment services developed since 2003? And which types of dilemmas and trade-offs have emerged along with these developments? In 2003, large parts of the public employment services were contracted out to non-public providers and a private market for employment services was established. Comprehensive tendering was introduced, and political expectations to the market were high. Around 12 years later, the market has decreased significantly and public-private cooperation has evolved into a much more partnership-based and local approach. The article describes how these changes have affected governance as well as policy direction and the difficulties involved in creating a functioning market for employment services that lives up to the political expectations.