How to Find Jobs Using Official Public Employment Portals (Country by Country)

When people look for work, they often start with big commercial job boards or social media ads. Those can be useful, but there is another source that is free, run by public authorities and often overlooked: public employment services. Most countries have one. They publish vacancies, offer career advice and, in many cases, run training programmes. This guide explains how to use them effectively and lists official portals we have checked.

Why start with official portals?

They are free. Registering and applying through a public employment service should not cost you anything.
They are run by public bodies, which normally means a basic level of oversight compared with anonymous adverts on social networks.
They often include support services: guidance, workshops, training courses and information about your rights as a worker.
Some vacancies are published there first, especially from local employers and public institutions.

No portal is perfect, and not every vacancy is checked individually, so always use common sense (see the safety section below).

How to search effectively

Create an account and a profile. Many portals let you save searches, upload a CV and receive alerts by email.
Use several keywords. Search for the job title in different forms (for example “warehouse”, “logistics”, “order picker”) and in the country’s main language as well as in English.
Filter by location and contract type. Full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal or apprenticeship.
Set up alerts so new matching vacancies come to you.
Read the full advert — especially requirements, the language level needed, and how to apply.
Keep a simple tracker (a spreadsheet works) with the job title, employer, date applied and next step.

Official portals by country and region

The links below point to official government or EU websites. Services and page layouts change, so always check the site itself for current conditions.

European Union: EURES

EURES (European Employment Services) is the European job mobility network. Its official site says it serves jobseekers in 31 EURES countries and that most of its services are free of charge, including guidance and help with your CV. Start here: EURES – Jobseekers.

Spain: SEPE

The Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal (SEPE) is Spain’s state public employment service. In Spain, job-placement services are also delivered by each region’s own public employment service, so check both. Official site: sepe.es.

France: France Travail

France Travail (the public employment service previously known as Pôle emploi) publishes job offers and support services. Main site: francetravail.fr; job search: offers search.

Germany: Bundesagentur für Arbeit and Make it in Germany

The Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) runs the official job search: Jobsuche. For skilled workers from abroad, the federal government’s portal Make it in Germany describes itself as “the official website for qualified professionals” and includes job listings and visa guidance.

Portugal: IEFP

The Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional (IEFP) is Portugal’s public employment and vocational training institute. Official site: iefp.pt; online services and vacancies: iefponline.

United Kingdom: Find a job (GOV.UK)

The UK government’s Find a job service lets you search and apply for full- or part-time jobs in England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland has a separate service. Link: gov.uk/find-a-job.

Canada: Job Bank

Job Bank is the Government of Canada’s job board. Link: jobbank.gc.ca.

United States: USAJOBS and CareerOneStop

USAJOBS is the official site for U.S. federal government jobs. CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, offers job search tools, career guides and training information.

Staying safe while you search

Public portals are generally safer than random adverts, but scammers sometimes copy real job titles or company names. Watch for these red flags:

You are asked to pay for an application, training, equipment, a uniform or a “visa processing fee” before you are hired.
The “employer” communicates only through messaging apps and refuses a video call or an official email address.
The offer is far better than the market (very high pay, no experience, immediate start).
You are asked for passport copies, bank details or ID documents before any formal offer.

If in doubt, contact the employer through the contact details on its own official website, not the ones in the advert.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use another country’s public employment portal?

Usually you can browse vacancies without restrictions. To actually work there, however, you must have the legal right to work in that country — for example as a citizen, as an EU/EEA national within the EU, or with a valid work permit or visa. See our guide to work visa basics.

Do I need to register to see vacancies?

On most portals you can search without an account, but registering lets you save searches, receive alerts and sometimes apply directly.

Are jobs on these portals verified?

Public services set rules for employers who post vacancies, but you should not assume every advert has been individually checked. Use the safety tips above.

Do public employment services help with CVs?

Many do. EURES, for example, mentions career guidance and CV support among its services. Check what your local service offers.

Related guides

Opportuly Careers is an independent informational guide. We are not an employer or a recruitment agency, and we never charge for job applications. Links were checked in November 2026.