Armenia will introduce a new state-supported employment program on January 1, 2027, offering vocational training and financial incentives to eligible unemployed citizens, displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh and members of socially vulnerable families.
Under the initiative, participants who complete vocational training and secure qualifying employment may receive 100,000 Armenian drams after three months of employment and an additional 200,000 AMD after 12 months, provided they meet the program’s requirements.
The total potential financial incentive is 300,000 AMD per participant.
According to Iravaban.net, the program was approved by Government Decision No. 1524-L of October 22, 2026. The financial incentives are established under Paragraph 17 of the decision’s annex.
The initiative also provides training vouchers worth up to 250,000 AMD to help eligible participants obtain professional qualifications and enter the labor market.
Who Can Participate in the New Employment Program?
The program targets three main categories of individuals who may face difficulties finding employment.
1. Unemployed Citizens Recently Discharged From Military Service
Individuals officially registered as unemployed may qualify if no more than two years have passed since their discharge from compulsory military service.
They must also meet an additional employment-related requirement: they must not have received wages or equivalent payments during the previous three months.
This provision is intended to support former conscripts as they transition from military service to civilian employment.
2. People Displaced From Nagorno-Karabakh
The second category includes individuals displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020 or 2023 who are not currently employed in Armenia.
To qualify, applicants in this category must not have received wages or equivalent payments during the preceding three months.
The program aims to support their integration into Armenia’s labor market through professional training and subsequent employment.
3. Working-Age Members of Socially Vulnerable Families
Working-age members of families officially recognized as socially vulnerable may also participate.
Eligibility depends on the household’s financial circumstances.
Specifically, the family’s monthly income per calculated household member must be below 130% of the income threshold used to determine eligibility for the vulnerability benefit.
This condition is intended to direct employment assistance toward families with limited financial resources.
Important Eligibility Restriction
All three categories are subject to an additional condition.
Applicants must not have previously participated in the corresponding earlier state employment programs identified in the government decision.
This requirement is separate from the income and employment conditions applicable to individual categories.
Applicants should therefore check their eligibility before applying.
How to Apply Through e-work.am
Participation begins with registration on Armenia’s electronic employment platform, e-work.am.
Eligible individuals must submit an application to participate in the program.
The application process includes verification of the conditions established by the government decision.
If an applicant meets the requirements, a training voucher is automatically generated through the platform.
The voucher can then be used to obtain vocational training under the program.
How Much Is the Training Voucher Worth?
The maximum value of the training voucher is 250,000 AMD.
The voucher may be used only once and remains available for six months.
It is intended to cover eligible vocational training expenses, allowing participants to acquire skills relevant to employment.
The voucher should not be confused with a direct cash payment to the beneficiary.
The 250,000 AMD represents the maximum training support available under the voucher mechanism, while the separate employment incentives are paid after the participant meets the required employment milestones.
What Happens After Completing Training?
After completing the training course, the participant must obtain a certificate confirming the relevant professional qualification.
The beneficiary must then be employed under the program in the occupation specified in the certificate.
The employment contract must generally provide for full-time employment and have a duration of at least three months.
The financial incentives are linked to continued qualifying employment, not merely to completing the training course.
