Supported employment services

You can take part in a work try-out in Helppari. Helppari activities are also open to trainees from different educational establishments. At Helppari you can, for example, test your own work ability or endurance, and the activities give you the opportunity to gradually return to working life routines.  You can familiarise yourself with the care sector or improve your language skills. We can also tailor different sets of tasks according to your needs.

Every work period includes work coaching, during which you will, for example, be able to reflect on your next steps and update your job-seeking skills. You can also get help and advice on starting your studies.

Helpparit work in the Vuorikoti senior housing in Vaasa, and from September 2025 onwards also at Fyrrykartano in Vähäkyrö, where they assist elderly people. Their tasks include, among other things, escorting residents to the dining room, serving meals and carrying out housekeeping tasks, going outdoors together, and arranging recreational activities.

No previous experience is required, and the work coaches are there to provide support throughout the day.

More information: Marika Fält, tel. 040 128 3790 / marika.falt(at)vaasa.fi

Who is this service for?

Work as an assistant in elderly care is possible if you have reduced work ability, have been unemployed for a longer period, or need support in returning to working life.

No previous training or experience is required. We provide thorough onboarding for the job, and if there is a problem, support is always available.

Every work period includes work coaching, during which you will, for example, be able to reflect on your next steps and update your job-seeking skills.

What does the job involve?

As an elderly care assistant, you will be working with seniors living in their own homes in Vaasa or Vähäkyrö. Each assistant has their own clients whom they meet weekly.

The visit is planned according to the wishes of the client. During the visit, you might, for example, go for a walk or run errands, such as shopping. Sometimes the assistant might help the client with small household chores and meals.

The work is rewarding and no two days are the same. The overall aim is to provide meaningful activities, both for the assistant as the carer and for the elderly person as the client.

What are the working hours?

The working hours are 85% of the regular working hours in the position, totalling 32.5 hours per week. The work takes place on weekdays, mainly between 9 and 16. The duration of the employment contract varies.

How can I become an assistant?

Contact us to find out more:
Marika Fält, tel. 040 128 3790 / marika.falt(at)vaasa.fi

With the summer job voucher, a company or association employing fewer than 50 people can offer a summer job to a young person aged 14–29. A young person can also independently, or together with their guardian, apply for the summer job voucher and via that apply for a summer job.

The application period is 1.4-15.5.2025

The summer job must occur between 1.5.2025 and 30.9.2025.

The submission of documents is open till 31.10.2025.

Please read the terms and conditions, along with further instructions, on the Finnish or Swedish language version of this page.

For more information:

tyollistamisyksikko@vaasa.fi

Check the Finnish or Swedish version of this page.

Submit a summer job voucher application and receipts: Online services (vaasa.fi, in Finnish or Swedish only)

The Vaasa employment supplement is a discretionary subsidy from the City of Vaasa to employers who hire an unemployed jobseeker from Vaasa. The employer can be an organisation or a company. The allowance is available for twelve (12) months, for a monthly amount of €350.

The employee must be registered in Vaasa. The employer’s domicile is not relevant
The condition for granting the supplement is that the person to be hired has been registered as a job seeker with Employment Services (formerly TE Services) for 12 months or longer prior to the start of the employment. The supplement must be applied for before the employment starts.

Conditions for the employer

The company receiving the Vaasa employment supplement must not have had any layoffs, redundancies, or tax debts in the last 12 months. The company’s details will be verified if necessary

Conditions for the employment

The employment can be either permanent or fixed-term, but it must last for at least 12 months. It can also be based on an apprenticeship contract, provided that its duration is at least 12 months.

The employee is paid the salary laid down in the collective agreement applicable to the position in question. If no applicable collective agreement exists, the employee must be paid a regular, fair wage.

The employer must ensure that even part-time workers earn at least €930 per month for the employment to count towards the employee’s work requirement.

Paying the Vaasa employment supplement to the employer

The employer is reimbursed retroactively, either on a monthly basis or as a lump sum. The supplement is paid into the bank account indicated by the employer in the application.

If the employment ends before 12 months have elapsed, the supplement is paid for the actual duration of the employment.

The application for the Vaasa employment supplement must be submitted via the City’s online services at https://asiointi.vaasa.fi (in Finnish or Swedish)

The employer must identify themself in the service by their online banking credentials, a mobile ID, or a certification card.

Once the employment has ended, the documents required for payment must also be submitted via the city’s online services. These documents include:

• an employment contract signed by both parties
• a receipt for the gross salary and the hours worked
• a receipt for the payment of wages to the employee.

More information:

tyollistamisyksikko@vaasa.fi

How to apply for the Vaasa employment supplement and submit the documents: Online services (vaasa.fi, in Finnish or Swedish only)

Preparatory work-life training groups

In the summer, we organise Cultural Camp groups for young people who have moved to Finland, as well as preparatory Tsemppis groups for young people who need extra support. The training is delivered in groups through a range of tasks and discussions.

The aim of the training is to strengthen participants’ individual resources, introduce them to working life in Finland, develop their job-seeking skills, and improve their language skills.

Participation in the preparatory training counts as a summer job and is paid.

Applications for the preparatory training groups are made through partner organisations. The 2025 application round was open until 1 May.

For young people facing challenges in finding work, we provide preparatory work readiness training in collaboration with our partner organisations. After this, participants move on to a two-week summer job placement.

Summer jobs for young people with special needs

Some young people have different support needs in the workplace. We organise summer work for young people and young adults aged 14–29, tailored to their interests and needs, across the city’s various departments. Support is provided, for example, through job coaching and adjustments to the summer job placements. The aim is to provide a work experience that supports the young person’s strengths and is encouraging and motivating.

Applications for summer jobs for young people with special needs are submitted through the Kuntarekry online platform. The 2025 applications were open from 13 January to 2 March 2025.

In collaboration with the Vaasa 4H association, we annually offer business grants of €200.

You must complete a 4H entrepreneur course and set up a 4H enterprise in order to be eligible for the grant.

More information and applications through the 4H association.

Who is eligible for job coaching?

Job coaching is intended for unemployed jobseekers of all ages in Vaasa who need more personalised longer-term support at various stages of their job search.

Coaching is available in Finnish, Swedish, and English, and is open to anyone registered as a resident in Vaasa.

What does job coaching involve, and do you need support and guidance?

• Help with creating a good CV
• Individual assessment: education, work experience, and skills
• Searching for job opportunities together with a coach
• Preparing for job interviews
• Support during the initial stages of employment
• Improving your digital skills
• Work-life goals and aspirations: exploring your interests and mapping out your education and career paths together
• Follow-up and additional guidance, if needed

The number of coaching sessions varies depending on the client’s needs. One session takes about an hour, and the service is free of charge. Job coaching may cover all stages or only selected ones, depending on the client’s needs.

If you would like more information, please leave your contact details using the link or QR code below.

Are you a young athlete aged 14–24 who is serious about your sport?

The City of Vaasa annually provides grants for summer jobs for young athletes from Vaasa. In collaboration with the Vaasa Region Sports Academy (VSUA), the city wishes to support young athletes through an employment grant, allowing them to work within their sport and providing an alternative form of summer employment.

The grant recipient’s work duties include posting on social media about their training, daily life as an athlete, and the City of Vaasa and Vaasa Region Sports Academy.

The Vaasa Region Sports Academy (VSUA) is in charge of the application and selection process, and the employment grant is awarded based on the recommendations of the VSUA working group. The young athletes apply for the grant themselves.

The application was open until 14 February 2025.

Read more about the criteria for awarding the grant and complete the application form on the VSUA website.