The Junta de Andalucia has launched a €68million package of incentives aimed at encouraging permanent hiring by autonomos (self-employed) and small businesses.

The programme is managed by the regional employment department and is split into two main funding lines.

The first is aimed at self-employed workers making their first-ever permanent hire.

Under this line, autonomos can receive up to €18,000 for a full-time contract, or €9,000 for part-time roles (provided they are at least 50% of full-time hours).

Additional bonuses are available – including up to €2,000 extra if the new hire is a woman.

There are conditions: the contract must represent a genuine increase in permanent staff and be maintained for at least two years.

Employers also cannot have had any employees in the previous 12 months to qualify.

Incentives to grow existing teams

The second line targets freelancers who already have staff, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises.

Here, subsidies reach €15,000 for full-time hires and €7,500 for part-time roles, again with possible increases depending on the profile of the worker.

As with the first scheme, contracts must be permanent, increase the company’s workforce and be maintained for a minimum of 24 months.

Applications for the scheme are now open and will run until June 30.

Focus on vulnerable groups

The programme prioritises those who often struggle most to find work, including under-30s, over-45s and the long-term unemployed.

To qualify, the person hired must be officially unemployed the day before starting the job and meet the relevant criteria for these groups.

The initiative forms part of the ‘Emplea-T’ programme, co-funded by the EU’s Social Fund Plus for 2021–2027.

How to apply

Eligible contracts must have been signed after January 1, 2026.

Applications must be submitted online via the Junta’s employment portal and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds run out.

To qualify, applicants must be registered in Andalucía, comply with Social Security requirements and demonstrate that each subsidised hire represents a real increase in staffing levels.

With €68 million available, the scheme represents a significant push to promote stable employment across the region.

But as applications are handled in order of submission, those interested will need to move quickly or risk missing out.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.