Youth Employment Voucher
The Youth Employment Voucher is a discretionary subsidy that the employment authority may grant to a company 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 companies that hire a young person aged 18–29 for an employment relationship lasting at least six months. The employment may be fixed-term or permanent, but the subsidy is paid for a maximum of six months.
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 hired young person’s municipality of residence is within the Ostrobothnia Employment Area (Kaskinen, Korsnäs, Laihia, Malax, Korsholm, Närpes, Nykarleby, Vaasa, and Vörå),
- The young person has been unemployed for at least six months during the past seven months.
or
- The young person has completed only the basic education syllabus and has been unemployed for at least three months.
Who can apply?
Companies that hire an unemployed young person aged 18–29 for at least six months may apply for the Youth Employment Voucher. The employment contract may be fixed-term or permanent, but the maximum subsidy period is six months.
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.
Instructions for applying for payment of the subsidy will be provided later as an attachment to the employment agreement.
For more information (in Finnish):
Youth Employment Voucher – Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Contact information
Telephone Service, employers and entrepreneurs: 06 325 4500, Mon–Fri from 9 to 12
E-mail: nuorten.rektyrointituki@vaasa.fi