- About us
- Directorate of Employment Promotion Services
- Directorate of Employment Services
- Directorate of Labour Services
- Directorate of European Social Fund and Training Services
- Directorate of Certification and Vocational Training Services
- Applications
More than 130 unemployed people placed in INCLUIR measure under Social Employment Market
Regional Government promotes seminar on certification, training and qualification of workers
Unemployment registered in July at its lowest in the last 17 years in the Azores
This space is intended to be an important tool for the dissemination of the activities carried out by the Regional Directorate for Vocational Training and Employment (DRQPE), being accessible to all citizens.
Due to constant technological advances, the DRQPE strategically places at the service of all multiple contents and information of specific interest, but also of more general interest, providing a more comprehensive and clear vision of the competences and mission of this Regional Government service.
The Regional Directorate for Vocational Training and Employment is responsible for assisting the Regional Secretary for Youth, Vocational Training and Employment in the development and pursuance of policies in the areas of employment, labour, training and vocational, monitoring the implementation of the resulting measures.
Therefore, the mission of the Regional Directorate for Vocational Training and Employment is focused on finding effective solutions to the challenges of qualifying human resources and promoting the employability of Azoreans. This is reflected in the increased competitiveness of our companies and, thus, contributes to the economic and social development of the Azores.
In this regard, the governmental action for vocational training and employment in the Azores should continue to focus on the monitoring of the unemployed, the promotion of vocational training and qualification of human resources, and the promotion of employment and labour stability. Furthermore, it should also focus on the social dialogue and on raising the awareness of social partners for the need to promote collective bargaining. In the pursuit of this mission, this department relies on funding from the Regional Budget, state transfers and Community funds, under the European Social Fund (ESF), the main financial instrument of the European Union (EU) for investment in people.
As such, and besides providing contents and functionalities, we are available to inform, advise and guide all citizens in the scope of our mission.
You are all most welcome!
February 4, 2026
More than 130 unemployed people placed in INCLUIR measure under Social Employment Market
More than 130 unemployed people with low employability, disabilities or impairments are already integrated into traineeship projects in a real work context through the INCLUIR measure under the Social Employment Market (MSE). The measure was implemented by the Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate for Vocational Training and Employment. Since 2025, the year when this public policy measure for labour inclusion was created, 124 applications from non-profit organisations have been approved for traineeship projects in other regional employers, including private companies, for a total of 163 vacancies. This indicates that, to date, more than 80% of the vacancies created for the benefit of unemployed people eligible for the MSE have been filled. The INCLUIR measure mobilises non-profit organisations, namely Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS), to promote traineeships in other regional employers, as a response to unemployment problems associated with disability, impairments and personal and/or social problems faced by the unemployed. Applications opened on February 1 and are open until December 31 this year at emprego.azores.gov.pt, where the MSE Implementation Guide can also be consulted. "The initial data on the implementation of this new measure leads us to two immediate conclusions: the INCLUIR measure is opening up companies to people who have difficulty integrating or reintegrating into the labour market; IPSS and companies are joining forces to integrate workers who can effectively bring value and productivity to companies," stated the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment. Maria João Carreiro also stressed that "the personal and social circumstances of workers should not be an obstacle to their integration into the labour market," and for this reason, she added that "this is a measure that calls on companies to fulfil their social responsibility." Traineeships last for 24 months, including a two-month rest period, and can be full-time (maximum 35 hours per week) or part-time (between 15 and 20 hours per week). Trainees are awarded a traineeship grant corresponding to 100% of the Minimum Monthly Wage (RMMG) in the Region, in the case of full-time internships. For part-time traineeships, the grant is proportional to the weekly working hours, based on the RMMG in the Region. Additionally, the trainees receive a meal allowance. The promoting entities receive monthly support equal to 23.75% of the traineeship grant awarded for each trainee during the training period. If a trainee is hired in the month following the completion of their traineeship, promoting entities will receive support amounting to 50% of the total support awarded during the training period. Employers taking part in the traineeship project can benefit from the “Contratar Social” measure when hiring trainees at the end of their training. This measure provides support of up to €26,000 over four years for each new job created. In the case of workers with disabilities or impairments, employers can benefit from hiring support for six years, ranging from 90% of the salary costs incurred by the company for the hired worker, in cases where the worker's disability is equal to or greater than 90%, and 40% in cases of disability equal to or greater than 40% and less than 60%. The MSE, whose new regulations were published in January 2025, is the main public governance instrument for promoting the labour market inclusion of unemployed people facing vulnerabilities in the labour market. It brings together the public administration, non-profit organisations and employers in promoting pathways that foster the labour inclusion of workers whose unemployment is associated with personal and/or social difficulties.
November 10, 2025
Regional Government promotes seminar on certification, training and qualification of workers
The Regional Secretariat for Youth, Housing and Employment, through the Regional Directorate for Vocational Training and Employment (DRQPE), will promote the seminar "Networking Skills: Training Entities, Certification and Regional Qualifications Passport" on November 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. This forum for reflection and public debate will take place at the Luís de Camões Auditorium, in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island. Participation is free and open to the public. Those interested in participating must register by November 18 using the electronic form available at https://forms.office.com/e/aAeBV4371Y. The seminar is organised into two panels. The first panel will analyse and debate the "Challenges of Entity Certification and Training." This panel, which will be moderated by Acir Meirelles, President of the Board of Directors of the Azores Training Centre, will feature Anabela Solano, Director of Quality and Accreditation Services at DGERT; João Lourenço, Coordinator of the IEFP National Trainer Qualification Centre; and Renato Medeiros, Regional Director for Vocational Training and Employment. “The role of companies in asset development and qualification” will be the theme of the second panel, moderated by Laura Pimentel, Director of Employment Services at DRQPE, with the participation of Paula Stone, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ponta Delgada; Pedro Santos, Administrator of Norma Açores, S.A.; and Sofia Mota, Director of Human Resources at the Bensaude Group. The Regional Qualifications Passport will be presented at the seminar. The opening session will be chaired by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Housing and Employment, Maria João Carreiro.