Finland’s €30 million youth employment voucher scheme struggles to find takers

A government-funded voucher covering half of a young employee’s salary for six months has seen little uptake, despite €30 million being allocated to help unemployed under-30s enter the workforce, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The scheme, launched at the start of the year, allows employers to receive up to €1,500 per month for half a year when hiring a young jobseeker. Yet only a handful of businesses have applied. In the Päijät-Häme region, for example, just two companies—including an equestrian stable in Orimattila—have used the voucher so far.

Taru Mäntynen, 22, secured her “dream job” as a stable hand through the scheme after completing basic education. “I only found out about the recruitment support during a meeting at the employment office,” she said. The voucher requires applicants to have been unemployed for at least three months if they lack upper-secondary qualifications, or six months otherwise.

Regional employment offices report weak demand, citing economic uncertainty and poor awareness of the programme. In Helsinki, only four young people have been hired through the scheme, though funding exists for over 470. Turku’s employment area has seen 20 hires, while Tampere has had 12. “Companies simply don’t have the capacity to take on new staff,” said Mari Rautiainen, employment director in Oulu.

Some regions only began processing applications in recent weeks. Anne Tapaila, head of Päijät-Häme’s employment services, stressed the importance of supporting youth in a tight labour market: “Unemployment is harder for young people to endure than for experienced workers.” Around €1.5 million remains unspent in her district alone—enough to employ over 200 young people.

Employers like Timo Korvenheimo, who hired Mäntynen, found the application straightforward once they learned of the scheme. “The process was quick, and the decision came promptly,” he said. However, many businesses remain unaware of the support, with some describing the application as overly bureaucratic.

Funding for the temporary scheme must be used by January 2027, with allocations based on regional youth unemployment and local hiring capacity. Tapaila urged businesses to utilise the funds, noting they come from central government, not municipal budgets.