Following an interpretative approach this paper investigates the role of knowledge orders, understood as settings which attribute relevance to specific expertise. The changing patterns of incorporation of expertise in policy formulation as well as public justification are analysed for German and British labour market policy. From a comparative perspective it can be observed that the processes of transformation differ with regard to relevant drivers and measures. In both cases approaches of evidence-based policy making have gained importance. Nevertheless we argue that a changing knowledge order does not necessarily affect policy formulation and public justification in analogous ways.