Recruitment subsidy for young people

• Who can apply for the subsidy: a private-sector employer or a third-sector employer engaged in economic activities.
• For what is the subsidy granted: wage costs in an employment relationship that lasts at least six (6) months. The employment relationship may be part-time or full-time.
• Person to be hired: an unemployed jobseeker under 30 years of age in Espoo or Kauniainen who has been unemployed for at least six (6) months or an unemployed jobseeker under 30 years of age who has been unemployed for at least three (3) months and who has only completed comprehensive education.
• Amount and payment of the subsidy: 50 per cent of the wage costs, but no more than 1,500 euros per month, and a total of a maximum of 9,000 euros for each person to be employed. The subsidy is paid to the employer retroactively in two instalments.
• Application period: you can apply for the subsidy from 3 February 2026 onward.
   

• The employment relationship may not begin before the employer and Employment Services have concluded an agreement on the subsidy.
• Different forms of employment subsidies cannot be applied for simultaneously or for the same period.
• The employment relationship lasts at least 6 months. The employment relationship may be part-time or full-time.
• The subsidy is granted to a private-sector employer or a third-sector employer engaged in economic activities.
• The employer may receive subsidies for more than one person to be hired; the number of employees is not limited.
• The subsidy is 50 per cent of the wage costs, but no more than 1,500 euros per month, and a total of a maximum of 9,000 euros for each person to be employed.
• Wage costs include the wages payable to the employee based on working hours or the performance of a contract subject to withholding tax.
• Wage costs do not include the following:
  • Holiday bonus or holiday allowance or equivalent compensation. If wages are paid for the annual holiday period as a holiday bonus according to the collective agreement applicable to the employment relationship, the share of the holiday bonus corresponding to an annual holiday had during the pay subsidy period may be treated as wage costs at the employer’s request.
  • Compensation for additional work or overtime or cash compensation for the working hours account.
  • Wages for the period when the employer has the right to receive daily allowance pursuant to the Health Insurance Act, rehabilitation allowance pursuant to the act on Kela’s rehabilitation benefits and rehabilitation allowances (Laki Kansaneläkelaitoksen kuntoutusetuuksista ja kuntoutusrahaetuuksista), compensation pursuant to the Workers’ Compensation Act, or communicable disease allowance pursuant to the Health Insurance Act, for the wage costs of the person hired with the subsidy.
  • The share of wages determined based on the work performance of the person hired with the subsidy or based on the employer’s performance.
  • Reimbursement of costs or employee benefits.
• The subsidy is paid to the employer retroactively in two instalments after 3 months and 6 months.
• The employer is responsible for providing the City with correct and sufficient information to justify the payment and monitoring of the grant.

• Upon request, the employer must provide information on the employment relationship or documents outlining the employer’s operations to the processor of the recruitment subsidy for young people.
• Subsidies granted based on incorrect information or used for a purpose other than the intended purpose of the subsidy may be recovered from the employer.
• The subsidy may also be recovered if the employer does not provide the requested information.

There are two ways to apply for the subsidy:

1. Fill in an electronic application form

Fill in the electronic application form and then press “Submit” to submit it. The electronic application does not need to be signed or submitted in any other way.
Electronic application form(external link, opens in a new window)

OR 
2.    Fill in a PDF application form
Download the application form in the PDF format, fill it in and print it out to be signed. Deliver the application and its appendices to the Espoo Registry Office. Please note that printed application forms must include both the employer’s signature (p. 3) and the signature of the person to be employed (p. 4). 
PDF application form(external link, opens in a new window)

Delivery methods of the PDF form:

By email: send an encrypted message via the SecureMail service(external link, opens in a new window) to kirjaamo@espoo.fi
By mail: Espoo Registry Office, P.O. Box 1, 02070 City of Espoo
Visiting address: Espoo Registry Office, Siltakatu 11, 3rd floor, Shopping Centre Entresse, 02770 Espoo. Open on weekdays from 10:00 to 15:45. Website of the Registry Office.