In Search of a Connection: Public Procurement and Active Labour Market Policies in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia

Governments in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have increasingly utilised public procurement—their power to purchase goods and services—to assist disadvantaged groups in accessing better-quality jobs. This approach is part of a broader effort to create ‘good jobs’. However, it is necessary to examine whether this represents a new strategy for addressing persistent issues of inequality in labour markets. This review critically assesses whether public procurement and Active Labour Market Policies (ALMPs) form a coherent, sequential and complementary framework. The conclusion, however, is that this connection is not well-established. Instead, there is a disjointed situation where the two approaches lack meaningful integration, despite some efforts at the local level.