Ministry of Labour: New employment programmes in Thessaly, totalling €109m
Athens, January 29, 2025
Ministry of Labour: New employment programmes in Thessaly, totalling €109m
A series of targeted employment programmes totalling €109m and aimed at further supporting employment in the Region of Thessaly were presented on Wednesday, January 29, in Larissa by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Niki Kerameus, and the Governor of the Greek Public Employment Service (DYPA), Spiros Protopsaltis.
Specifically, three major DYPA programmes were announced, aimed at creating new jobs, providing work experience, and promoting entrepreneurship for 6,500 unemployed individuals in the Region of Thessaly.
The three programmes in detail:
- Programme aimed at creating 5,000 new full-time jobs:
The programme is open to unemployed individuals of all ages and all businesses operating in Thessaly. The programme subsidy covers up to 75% of the employee's wage and non-wage costs (i.e. up to €1,250 per month) for up to 18 months. - Programme aimed at creating 1,000 new businesses:
The programme is aimed at supporting 1,000 unemployed individuals of all ages to establish new businesses, providing a total subsidy of €14,800 per business for 12 months. - Work experience programme for 500 young unemployed individuals in climate change mitigation actions:
The programme seeks to provide work experience to 500 unemployed individuals aged 18 to 30 in actions related to climate change mitigation and environmental protection.
It is worth noting that, from August 2019 to December 2024, 20,166 individuals in Thessaly have benefited from DYPA employment programmes, and 39,910 individuals have participated in DYPA training programmes. Over the same period, the unemployment rate in the region significantly decreased from 19.5% to 9.8%. The total investment in employment and training interventions in Thessaly, from 2019 to 2024, amounts to €205m. Including the recently announced programmes, the total investment has reached €314m.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Niki Kerameus stated:
"Strengthening employment is our top priority, and DYPA’s programmes contribute significantly to this goal. The feedback we receive has been very encouraging, yet we remain vigilant in implementing targeted programmes to further reduce unemployment. Thessaly has faced severe challenges due to natural disasters, thus making the reinforcement of the regional labour market even more urgent. We consistently stand by workers, businesses, and the unemployed, ultimately aiming for the overall improvement of their living standards."
DYPA Governor Spiros Protopsaltis added: "Programmes boosting employment and supporting the labour market in Thessaly have been a key priority for DYPA, as this region was severely tested by Storm Daniel. Over the past few years, more than 20,000 people from Thessaly have found employment through DYPA programmes, and nearly 40,000 have acquired new skills through DYPA training programmes.
These measures have significantly contributed to reducing the unemployment rate in Thessaly by 50%, from 19.5% to 9.8%, over five years. DYPA has invested more than €205m over this period, primarily in ALMPs. Today, with three new programmes totalling €109m, we actively support the labour market integration of 6,500 unemployed individuals through the creation of new jobs and businesses, but also by helping young jobseekers acquire significant work experience through climate change and environmental protection actions. We carry on enhancing employment nationwide with effective actions and new programmes."
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