Popular summer work vouchers for young people in South Karelia to be applied for on 2.2.2026

in South Karelia Vouchers are issued in Imatra, Lappeenranta, Ruokolahti, Luumäki, Rautjärvi, Parikkala and Savitaipale. The municipalities and cities of the region are the funders of the summer work vouchers. Taipalsaari has its own model for summer employment for young people.

Summer work vouchers are issued in the order in which applications are received. The young person must have a job agreement when applying for the voucher. Vouchers cannot be reserved.

There are 300 summer work vouchers being distributed in Lappeenranta, 210 in Imatra, 17 in Luumäki, 30 in Rautjärvi, 25 in Parikkala and 35 in Savitaipale. The municipality of Ruokolahti is distributing vouchers to all interested target group members in an ongoing call.

Age groups eligible to apply by municipality:

• Imatra born 2006–2012
• Lappeenranta born 2009–2012 (250 pcs), born 1998–2008 (50 pcs)
• Savitaipale b. 2009–2012 (25 pcs), b. 1998–2008 (10 pcs)
• Luumäki born 2009–2012
• Rautjärvi born 2006–2012
• Ruokolahti born 2006–2012
• Parikkala born 2006–2012

In Lappeenranta, the employment period for summer work voucher users is the school summer vacation period for 14–17-year-olds, i.e. 31 May–5 August 2026. In Imatra, Luumäki, Savitaipale, Rautjärvi, Ruokolahti and Parikkala, the employment period is May–August 2026.

– We distribute the vouchers centrally through the Lappeenranta and Imatra Ohjaamos, Ohjaamo youth worker Nina Wool From the city of Lappeenranta.

From the website of the city of Imatra You can find the application instructions and form for the banknotes of Imatra, Ruokolahti, Rautjärvi and Parikkala.

Lappeenranta's Ohjaamo, in turn, distributes the Lappeenranta, Savitaipale and Luumäki banknotes. The application instructions and form are on this page.

– Instructions for both the young person and the employer have been compiled on the same website. The employer and the summer worker fill out the electronic application form together, Laine reminds us.

Feedback on the summer work voucher model has been collected in South Karelia approximately every two years through a customer survey from both employers and workers.

– For many entrepreneurs, especially small entrepreneurs, the summer work voucher is a decisive factor in the possibility of employing young people. The summer work voucher is popular among young people, and based on feedback, the summer work experience is valuable to them. Young summer workers hope for a friendly and open culture of discussion and orientation in the workplace.

In Lappeenranta, as part of the Youth-Friendly Employer Network, a feedback form filled out by young people is a prerequisite for paying the value of the summer job voucher to the employer.

This year, the City of Imatra will again distribute entrepreneurship vouchers for young people, with the application period being 16 February–8 March 2026. Information about the entrepreneurship vouchers will be available on the City of Imatra website no later than early February.

From the Get a job this summer page You can browse a collection of summer jobs in the Southeast Finland region and tips for job searching. The City of Lappeenranta website also has a guide for young people Summer job guideYou can follow news from the South Karelia employment region on social media: Facebook South Karelia employment area and on Instagram @southerncarolinacountry.

For more information: 

Imatra, Ruokolahti, Rautjärvi, Parikkala:

Jaana Gröhn, Cabin Coordinator, City of Imatra, jaana.grohnimatra.fi (jaana[dot]grohn[at]imatra[dot]fi), tel. 020 617 7277, 

Lappeenranta, Luumäki, Savitaipale:

Nina Laine, Youth Worker, City of Lappeenranta, nose. wavelappeenranta.fi (nina[dot]laine[at]lappeenranta[dot]fi), tel. 040 504 1946,