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New recruitment support for companies to be introduced in South Karelia - a significant investment in employment and vitality
The municipalities of South Karelia (Imatra, Lappeenranta, Lemi, Luumäki, Parikkala, Rautjärvi, Ruokolahti, Savitaipale and Taipalsaari) have developed a new support model together with companies in the region, which aims to strengthen the vitality and employment of the region. Recruitment support offers concrete help to employers and the opportunity for job seekers to get back into working life.
Decisions have already been made about recruitment support in Imatra, Rautjärvi and Ruokolahti, and recruitment support will be introduced in the autumn of 2025.
The new recruitment subsidy is a financial incentive for employers that is at the discretion of municipalities and is tied to appropriations. The purpose of the subsidy is to lower the threshold for employment and facilitate the entry into working life of job seekers who have difficulty finding employment – such as the long-term unemployed and those with partial work capacity. Associations can also utilize the recruitment subsidy.
— There is a lot of potential labor available in the area and we want to encourage companies to hire people with support, says the development manager of the City of Imatra's business and employment services. Marika Vento.
In the background: the TE2024 reform and the growing role of municipalities
The reform of the organization of employment services (TE2025), which came into force at the beginning of 2024, transferred the responsibility for organizing TE services from the state to municipalities. In South Karelia, Lappeenranta is the responsible municipality for the employment area. With the reform, each municipality in the area now has not only a greater role, but also a clear financial incentive to shorten unemployment periods. Recruitment support is support provided by municipal employment services.
A unified support model for the entire province
The goal is to create a unified and clear provincial recruitment support model that serves both companies and job seekers. Recruitment support encourages not only recruiting but also training new professionals – the support can also be used for apprenticeships or completing degree components as part of an employment relationship.
— Cooperation between the municipalities' employment experts has been smooth, and a common view on the need for recruitment support and the conditions was quickly found. We want to have strong cooperation with the business community and further develop the support model based on experience, says the employment coordinator of the municipality of Ruokolahti Anne Rasimus.
How do I apply for recruitment support?
Application instructions and additional information for recruitment support will be published on the municipalities' websites during August. Follow your municipality's website to stay up to date.
For more information:
Marika Vento, Development Manager of Business and Employment Services, City of Imatra, marika. vento
imatra.fi (marika[dot]vento[at]imatra[dot]fi), tel. 020 617 7279
Employment Coordinator Anne Rasimus, Ruokolahti Municipality, anne.rasimusreokolahti.fi (anne[dot]rasimus[at]ruokolahti[dot]fi), P. 044 449 1213
Employment Coordinator Pipsa Vuorela, Rautjärvi Municipality, pipsa.vuorelarautjarvi.fi (pipsa[dot]vuorela[at]rautjarvi[dot]fi), tel. 040 658 5814
Recruitment support criteria
- For companies: A Finnish company (Finnish business ID) whose registered office is located in the province of South Karelia and which has no obstacles to employment (e.g. layoffs)
o The person to be hired must be an unemployed jobseeker for whom the granting municipality pays a municipal funding share (receiving at least 201 days of unemployment benefit). The support can only be granted once to the same employee. - For associations and organizations: (Finnish business ID) that has no obstacles to employment (e.g. layoffs)
o The person to be hired must be long-term unemployed (during the 12 months preceding the 14 months) or partially able to work.
o Max. 1 person/year. - The employee must be paid a wage in accordance with the collective agreement, but if there is no applicable collective agreement, then a normal and reasonable wage for the work in question.
- The employment relationship must be continuous for at least 12 months and the working hours must be at least 81 percent of the total working hours in the industry.
- Support can also be granted for apprenticeship training and its individual qualification components as part of an employment relationship.
- Once the recruitment support criteria have been met, the support is paid in two parts:
o After 6 months €3000
o After 12 months €1500
Thanks for the question,…
Thank you for your question, wage subsidy cannot be used for salary purposes, meaning two different subsidies cannot be combined.
Kind regards, Marika Vento
Can I get recruitment support...
Can I receive recruitment support for an employee who is already receiving wage support from the Employment Agency? In other words, can I receive these two supports at the same time?
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