Public procurement and Labour Market Inequality – Linkages and Approaches

Accounting for about one third of total government spending (OECD, 2023: 121), public procurement is an important part of the economy. Strategically used, it can serve as a lever for promoting an array of goals, from mitigating climate change to promoting SMEs and promoting equality.

In the wake of a broader shift towards regulation, the potential of public procurement to act as a policy tool has attracted growing attention. The presentation examines the strategic use of public procurement with particular emphasis on its use as a lever for fostering equality. Based on an introduction to socially responsible public procurement, it examines and conceptualises the linkages between public procurement and labour market inequalities.