The 'Youth Job Step-Up Incentive,' a core government employment support program, is drawing significant attention in 2024 as it expands its support targets to include mid-sized companies in non-metropolitan areas and strengthens benefits for direct youth support. Here is a summary of the key eligibility criteria and support amounts for this system, which delivers practical benefits to both companies facing labor shortages and young job seekers.

Both Companies and Youth Must Meet Eligibility Requirements

■ Company-Side Eligibility The basic targets are ▲Priority Support Companies with five or more employees covered by employment insurance, or ▲mid-sized companies located in non-metropolitan areas. However, companies in future-promising industries such as knowledge services, cultural content, and new renewable energy, youth start-up companies, and companies located in employment crisis areas can apply with one or more insured employees.

■ Youth-Side Eligibility The youth to be hired must be an unemployed individual aged 15 to 34, and their average monthly salary after employment must not exceed 4.5 million won. Youth employed by companies in the metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon) must have been unemployed for four or more consecutive months or meet other 'youth with employment difficulties' criteria, such as having a high school diploma or lower. When employed by a company in a non-metropolitan area, there are no such restrictions, and all general youth are included as support targets.

Differences in Support Structure by Region

Metropolitan Area Companies If a company hires an eligible youth as a full-time employee and maintains employment for six months or more, the company will receive up to 7.2 million won (600,000 won per month) for one year. However, there is no government support paid directly to youth employed in the metropolitan area.

Non-Metropolitan Area Companies Both company support funds and direct youth support funds are provided simultaneously. If a company hires a youth as a full-time employee and maintains employment for six months or more, the company receives up to 7.2 million won in support for one year. Additionally, a long-term service incentive is paid directly to the youth worker who has been employed for six months or more, for a period of two years, with differential rates applied depending on their residential area.

• General non-metropolitan areas: 4.8 million won in total
• Preferential support areas: 6 million won in total
• Special support areas: 7.2 million won in total

How to Apply and Important Notes

Applications must be submitted online within three months of hiring through the Ministry of Employment and Labor's integrated platform, the 'Employment 24' website. Since eligibility to claim the support grant is granted starting from the point of at least six months of work as a full-time employee, applicants must carefully confirm maintenance conditions to avoid disqualification due to mid-term resignation or exceeding the salary threshold.

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