IEFP +Emprego hiring support: how it works and who can apply in 2026
Portugal's +Emprego measure helps companies that hire unemployed jobseekers on permanent contracts. Here is who qualifies, the conditions and how to apply.
Apply / Learn moreThe +Emprego measure is a support from Portugal’s public employment service (IEFP) for companies that sign a permanent, full-time contract with an unemployed jobseeker registered at the job centre. It lowers the cost of hiring on a stable basis — and the value of the support is tied to the IAS index, which in 2026 is 537.13 euros.
What is the +Emprego measure?
It is an incentive for permanent hiring. The state covers part of the cost when a company genuinely creates a new job and keeps it — it is not for replacing someone who leaves, it is for growing. It differs from internships (which are temporary) and from youth-only measures: here the focus is the open-ended contract, at any age.
Who can apply?
Employers who hire, on a permanent contract, someone who is unemployed and registered with IEFP. There are rules to meet: create net employment, keep the supported job level for at least 24 months, provide training to the worker, and not have carried out collective dismissals in the three months before applying.
How do you apply?
Applications are made online, on the iefponline portal, before the hire. It is worth confirming the exact amounts and deadlines on the official sheet, as they vary with the type of contract and the profile of the person hired — it is all on the IEFP hiring-support section. If you are after a youth-focused measure instead, see the AVANÇAR hiring-support programme.
Illustrative · Photo: Anna Shvets / Pexels
