Canaries calls for 4.5 million euros in aid to hire vulnerable youth

The Ministry of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Canary Employment Service (SCE), opens a new call to apply for subsidies corresponding to the 2026 fiscal year of the Second Chance Program.

This initiative, developed in collaboration with the island councils and their linked public entities, has a total budget amounting to 4.5 million euros, financed by 85% through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Canarias 2021-2027 Program.

The main objective of this program is to promote the labor insertion of young unemployed people registered in the National Youth Guarantee System who do not have a compulsory secondary education qualification (ESO).

Through projects of up to 12 months in duration, participants will sign training contracts in alternation in which 40% of the working day will be dedicated to unpaid mandatory training in key competencies, while the remaining 60% will correspond to paid effective work to carry out works or services of general and social interest.

As highlighted by the Minister of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canary Islands, Jéssica de León, "it is essential that all age groups have real opportunities to find employment and improve their professional qualifications, and especially our young people."

"Through the Second Chance Program, we offer a useful and effective transition pathway for young Canarians without basic qualifications to acquire essential training and work experience simultaneously, guaranteeing a more inclusive access to the labor market with future guarantees," assured the minister.

For her part, the director of the Canary Employment Service, María Teresa Ortega, explained that one of the main objectives of this program consists of "accompanying young people in situations of greater vulnerability both academically and professionally, training them in key or basic competencies that open doors for them towards professional accreditation and lifelong learning."

To optimize this resource, "the financing is structured through unit cost modules by contribution groups, which guarantee transparent and agile public management and allow for the incorporation of technical support staff to guide participants throughout the entire itinerary," assured Ortega.

The global amount of 4,500,000 euros finances the salary and social security contribution costs for both young participants in the program and the technical support, guidance, and training teams. The hiring of participants will have a duration of between 8 and 11.5 months, while that of the support team personnel may be for a maximum of 12 months.

Beneficiary entities (island councils and their public bodies) will have a period of one month to submit their applications, starting from the day after the publication of the extract of the call in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC).

Processing will be carried out exclusively remotely through the electronic headquarters of the Canarian Employment Service.