Most summer job vouchers for teens unused: employers hire adults instead

By admin On Jun 11, 2025

A summer worker selling ice cream. Photo: Lehtikuva

Thousands of summer job vouchers intended to help 15-year-olds into seasonal work are going unused in several Finnish cities, as employers cite weak demand, high labour availability, and limited value of the subsidies. In some cases, adult jobseekers are filling the positions originally intended for teenagers.

Cities like Helsinki, Lahti and Oulu offer vouchers to all lower secondary school graduates. The vouchers, typically worth around 300–350 euros, are meant to subsidise wages and support teenagers in gaining early work experience. Despite these efforts, uptake remains low.

In Helsinki, fewer than half of the roughly 4,000 vouchers issued have been used in recent years. The city’s programme covers all ninth-graders and students in preparatory education. Employers must pay a minimum of 500 euros in wages, with the city covering 350 euros. Around 6,000 young people are eligible each year.

Tiina Hörkkö, area manager at Helsinki Youth Services, said summer job opportunities have declined compared to previous years. “We’ve also seen an increase in unemployed adults applying for the same jobs,” she said.

Lahti has issued vouchers for the third consecutive year to all interested ninth-graders. More than 880 applied in 2024, but fewer than 300 have historically been used. Jasmina Lebnaoui, a specialist at Lahti’s employment services, said many teens fail to find a job where they can use the voucher.

Feedback from employers suggests that the value of the voucher is often too small to cover costs, and some businesses only hire adults. Tiina Vidgren, CEO of Lahti-based Vidgren Oy, said demand for services has fallen, and the labour market has shifted. “We see more workers available, and that leaves younger applicants without positions,” she said.

The vouchers typically require employers to hire the young person for at least ten working days or 60 hours between May and August. The work must be compensated in accordance with collective agreements, or with a minimum gross salary of 360 euros.

Some cities have responded with stricter eligibility rules or budget-based restrictions. In Hämeenlinna, 497 vouchers were issued in 2024, but the city ran out of funds before fulfilling all applications. The voucher values vary: 200 euros for two weeks of work and 400 euros for jobs over a month.

In Tampere, the system has seen strong uptake. The city increased its voucher offering from around 550 in 2023 to 720 this year, and nearly all have been used. The voucher covers 320 euros of a minimum 400-euro wage, and is available for 15–17-year-olds. Petri Räsänen, coordinator of the programme, said young people found work in retail, cleaning, restaurants, law offices, farms and theatres.

In contrast, budget cuts in Jyväskylä reduced voucher availability significantly. Only 90 were distributed in 2024, compared to 280 the previous year. Applicants needed to secure a job before receiving the subsidy. In the end, 177 vouchers were used, including unused ones from prior rounds.

Oulu issued 8,200 vouchers to teens aged 15–18 but expects only half to be used. Outi Söderman-Juva, from BusinessOulu, said municipal summer jobs attracted 1,300 applications, 300 more than last year. The surge reflects reduced private sector hiring, she said.

Though the vouchers aim to ease young people into the labour market, many fail to secure jobs. Tiina Hörkkö said the scheme still has long-term benefits. “The experience can help prevent social exclusion and lead to permanent employment,” she said.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi