Taxes, Cash & Savings · Surprise rank #184
Hiring a Certified Young Worker? NY Employers Can Earn Up to $7,500 per Hire
The New York Youth Jobs Program gives certified businesses tax credits for employing certified eligible young workers.
Who
Businesses certified for the New York Youth Jobs Program that hire youth who are also certified by the New York State Department of Labor.
What to do
Start here: Employers should obtain business certification through NYSDOL and confirm the youth’s certification before relying on the tax credit.
Eligibility: Both the business and the young worker must be certified by NYSDOL, and hours, employment duration and other program requirements must be met.
What you get
A New York employer tax credit encourages businesses to hire certified young people and keep them employed for qualifying periods.
Benefit: Up to $7,500 for a qualifying full-time hire or up to $3,750 for a qualifying part-time hire, earned over the program’s employment periods.
Possible value: Up to $7,500 per eligible full-time youth or $3,750 per eligible part-time youth.
Good to know
Important: This is an employer-facing tax incentive, not a cash grant paid directly to the young worker. Certification and retention requirements matter.
Availability: Active
Status: Business/employer-facing · —
Why people miss it: Small employers may never look at workforce-program tax incentives, while job seekers may not realize their certification can make them financially attractive to a participating employer.
Sources reviewed: Aug 10, 2026