Following another application period for ESTAGIAR programme," the Vice-President of the Government of the Azores announced that "over 727 youngsters have been admitted to the traineeships." The selected youngsters will start the traineeships in January under the projects submitted by Azorean companies.
 
Sérgio Ávila revealed that 308 applicants hold an academic degree while the remaining 419 are vocational training graduates.

"With this measure, the Government will provide professional traineeships up to a two-year period. This initiative will promote an effective and efficient integration of young graduates in the labour market," stressed the government official.

Sérgio Ávila stressed that "with this measure, the Government of the Azores will invest over 4.8 million Euros to promote the employability of Azorean youngsters."

On the other hand, the government official reminded that "this programme also counts on the partnership of another programmed intended to promote the professional integration of trainees"; the latter allocates a significant support to the entities that wish to sign work contracts with trainees after the end of the traineeship programme.

The Vice-President of the Regional Government revealed that "over 500 youngsters have already been hired by the entities that provided the traineeships after the conclusion of the programme."

The ESTAGIAR Programme was created by the Regional Government with the aim of supporting young graduates, whether in higher education or vocational training, in their first contact with the labour market and, simultaneously, encouraging  the hiring of young graduates by Azorean companies.

"Given the adherence of Azoreans to the measures provided in the Azorean Agenda for Employment Creation and Business Competitiveness to stimulate economic activities, the Government of the Azores is not only reinforcing these measures, but also their intensity and diversity," stressed the government official.

Next year, revealed Sérgio Ávila, the Regional Government will "reinforce the support to professional traineeships, the hiring of youngsters by companies after the conclusion of traineeships and the creation of jobs by companies in the context of employment promotion policies, to which the Government has awarded priority status."

"As we had the opportunity to announce, this goal will also be achieved through the reinforcement of 100 million Euros in the funds available under the next Community Support Framework for the funding of employment promotion programmes," stressed the Vice-President of the Government.