Nearly three million euros granted to the Tampere region employment area to support youth employment – Employers will soon be able to apply for Youth recruitment subsidy

The Economic Development Centre for Uusimaa has granted the City of Tampere €2.93 million to promote youth employment with Youth recruitment subsidy. Discretionary subsidy is intended for employers engaged in business activities and can be applied for until early January 2027, subject to the availability of funds.

The City of Tampere acts as a responsible municipality in the Tampere region employment area and manages the contract process. When applying the Youth recruitment subsidy, the equal allocation between all the municipalities in the employment area is considered. The funding helps employers hire unemployed job seekers under the age of 30 for a minimum duration of six months.

This funding provides a significant boost in addressing employers’ recruitment challenges and speeding up young people’s access to employment. The objective is to lower the barrier for hiring and support employers in finding new talent in situations where recruitment might otherwise be considered risky. At the same time, aim is to strengthen young people’s long-term employment, even after the subsidy period ends. 

Youth recruitment subsidy in a nutshell

Who is eligible?

The subsidy is used to hire young people under the age of 30 who meet either of the following criteria:

• person has been unemployed for at least six months during the past seven months, or
• person has completed only basic education and has been unemployed for at least three months at the time the agreement is made.

Who can apply?

The subsidy is intended for employers engaged in business activities. Applications may be submitted until early January 2027, subject to the availability of funds. Employers from anywhere in Finland may apply.
However, the young person being hired must have their municipality of residence within the Tampere region employment area and be registered as a job seeker in the area.
The subsidy is not granted for seasonal, short-term or summer employment.

What does the employer receive?

Employers are eligible for:

• 50% of salary costs for a six month period,
• up to a maximum of 1500 euros per month per recruited young person.

The subsidy is paid retroactively once the employer and employment conditions are met.

What is expected from the employer?

Employers must:

• hire the young person for at least six months
• meet normal business and subsidy eligibility requirements
• register via an E-form  as an employer utilising the recruitment subsidy
• sign a recruitment subsidy agreement with the City of Tampere’s Employment and Growth Services

The employment relationship may not begin before the agreement is made.

When and where can the subsidy be applied for?

Application period for employers will open in late March 2026.
Detailed instructions will be published on the City of Tampere’s website once the application period begins.