The first Employment Agencies (E.A.) were established in September 1922. They were not governed by a legal framework nor did they have secured resources.  However, it was the beginning of the current OAED.

In 1955 it is established by the Legislative Decree (L.D.)2961/54, the Employment and Unemployment Insurance Organization (OAAA) as a legal entity under public law under the Ministry of Labour.

In 1969, OAAA was replaced by the newly established Organization for the Employment of Manpower (OAED), with the L.D.212/69. In the then new Organization, new Employment Agencies operated, on the basis of innovative, for the time, specifications R.D. 405/18.06.71).

In 1996, under the l.2434/96, OAED is defined as a National Employment Institution, while the new tripartite representation of the Board of Directors is instituted (state and social partners).

In 2001, OAED takes its modern form (Law 2956/2001) and the Employment Promotion Centers are established as new innovative Services to replace the Employment Agencies.

The anonymous companies Employment Observatory Research Informatics S.A. (PAEP) and Vocational Training SA were established by the art. 9 of L.2956/2001 and the art. 22 of L.3586/2007seconded from OAED, which were abolished on 1.9.2011 by the art.88 of L.3996 and operate as autonomous PuLLP.

In 2003, the Special KPA Service was established for the coordination of the organization and operation of the KPA, based on operating criteria that are in line with the logic of operation of the private economy (L. 3144/2003).

In 2006, the KPAs were renamed PES (L. 3518/2006), in order to transform them into one-stop shops (one-stop shops to promote employment and benefit policies).  That's how the creation of unified local services for both passive and active employment policies is institutionalized.

In addition, in the context of the management, control and implementation of development programs for 2007-2013 with funding from the NSRF, the Organization's services involved are certified to the quality management system ISO 9001: 2008.

In 2011, the Special Service KPA is replaced by the Directorate of Coordination and Development of the Network of Employment Services, in the context of the conversion of PES into a one-stop service (Law 3996/2011).

In 2013, under the L.4144, OAED becomes a universal successor and enters into all the rights and obligations of the abolished legal entities of public law with the names Workers' Housing Organization (ΟEE) and Workers' Club Organization (ΟEK.) from 14.2.2012 as applicable according to the par. 6 of article 1 of l. 4046/2012, as in force.

From 2012 to 2018, the OAED reorganization program entitled "Redefining the OAED Business Model" was designed, prepared and implemented (Reengineering). A basic parameter, alongside with the internal management and implementation of the program by the executives of the Organization, was the active participationj of European Commission representatives as well as representatives of the Public Employment Services of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany and France. The Organization underwent structural changes in order to upgrade its mediating role in the labour market between labour supply and demand, as well as to upgrade it to a digital and technological level. Some of the radical changes introduced are, inter alia, the reorganization of PES, the electronic completion of basic procedures for citizens (e-Services) etc. The "Redefining of the Business Model of OAED" (Reengineering), led to the modern form of the Organization and made it more capable of responding positively to the needs for support of the unemployed and businesses.