Government adopts decree on employment voucher for young people: employment authorities can apply for funding soon
On 22 December 2025, the Government adopted a decree on a new grant that employment authorities can use to help companies hire unemployed young people under 30 years of age. This grant is also known as the employment voucher or recruitment subsidy. The subsidy granted to a company covers half of the young person’s salary for six months, but no more than EUR 1,500 per month.
The decree on the employment voucher is based on the growth and employment package of the Government’s autumn government budget session, where it was agreed that Finland needs a fast-acting tool to prevent prolonged youth unemployment. By temporarily lowering recruitment costs, the employment voucher will make it easier for young people to find work in companies.
“The employment voucher will open doors for young people to working life and prevent prolonged unemployment among them. This EUR 30 million will be a significant additional investment in their employment. All young people deserve the opportunity to enter working life and find their first job,” says Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen.
Who grants the employment voucher (recruitment subsidy) and who is eligible?
Uusimaa Economic Development Centre will grant the subsidy to employment authorities to support the hiring of young people in early 2026. After that, the employment authorities will enter into agreements with companies on the use of the subsidy. To receive the subsidy, the company will have to commit to hiring a young person from the target group for at least six months. The target group includes unemployed people under 30 who have been without work for at least six months during the seven months before the agreement is signed. However, young people who have only completed primary and lower secondary education syllabus are excepted from this rule. For them, the requirement will be at least three months of unemployment.
How many young people could be hired with the recruitment subsidy?
The budget proposal includes an appropriation of EUR 30 million for a discretionary government grant for this purpose. This is expected to support the hiring of around 3,300 to 4,400 young people for six months during 2026–2027. The regional distribution of the government grant will be based on the employment authority’s estimate of how many young people could be hired with the grant and how many companies in the area could potentially offer jobs to the target group.
The decree on recruitment subsidies was finalised at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment after a public consultation round. After the decree has entered into force, employment areas can apply for the recruitment subsidy from Uusimaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment starting on 23 December 2025 (Uusimaa Economic Development Centre from 1 January 2026 onwards). Hiring with the recruitment subsidy will begin in early 2026 once Uusimaa Economic Development Centre has awarded the funding to employment authorities.
Inquiries:
Teresa Salminen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Employment, tel. +358 295 047 318 (questions to the Minister of Employment)
Janne Savolainen, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 344, email: [email protected]
Ville Heinonen, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, +358 295 047 215, email: [email protected]