Youth Employment Voucher
The Youth Employment Voucher is a discretionary subsidy that the employment authority may grant to a employer for hiring an unemployed young person aged 18–29. The aim of the subsidy is to facilitate young people’s access to the private labor market by temporarily reducing the employer’s recruitment costs. The subsidy may be granted for up to six months, with a maximum amount of 9,000 euros.
Who is the subsidy intended for?
The Employment Voucher is aimed at employers that hire a young person aged 18–29 for an employment relationship lasting at least three months.
Eligible employers include:
- Companies
- Associations
- Foundations
The employment relationship may be fixed-term or permanent. The subsidy may also be granted for part-time work or apprenticeship training if the granting authority considers it to promote the young person’s employment.
Conditions for granting the subsidy:
- The young person to be hired is aged 18–29.
- The hired young person’s municipality of residence is within the Ostrobothnia Employment Area (Kaskinen, Korsnäs, Laihia, Malax, Korsholm, Närpes, Nykarleby, Vaasa, and Vörå)
- The employment authority assesses that the subsidy will promote the young person’s employment.
There is no minimum requirement regarding the duration of the young person’s previous unemployment.
What does the subsidy cover?
The Youth Employment Voucher covers:
- 50% of the young person’s wage costs.
- Up to 1,500 euros per month.
- Up to 9,000 euros during the six-month subsidy period.
The subsidy applies to wage costs only and does not cover any related social security costs. The grant is awarded as de minimis aid.
How is the subsidy granted?
The Ostrobothnia Employment Area assesses applications and grants Youth Employment Vouchers at its discretion within the limits of available funding. Once a suitable employee has been selected, the employment area and the employer enter into an agreement on the use of the subsidy.
Instructions for applying for the Youth Employment Voucher:
- Complete the application form once the young person to be hired has been selected.
- The Employment Area processes and evaluates the application.
- If the subsidy is granted, you will receive an employment agreement specifying the terms of the subsidy and the payment principles.
Payment application
Payment can be applied for after the employment agreement has been concluded and wages have been paid.
Payment can be applied for in one or more instalments in accordance with the agreement, after wages have been paid, and no later than two months after the end of the subsidy period.
Fill in the payment application here (formbox.fi).
Required attachments (e.g. employment contract and proof of paid wages) are submitted via the form.
For more information (in Finnish):
Contact information
Telephone Service, employers and entrepreneurs: 06 325 4500, Mon–Fri from 9 to 12
E-mail: nuorten.rektyrointituki@vaasa.fi