HR Development

Employee Training Grant

人材開発支援助成金 (Human Resource Development Grant)

Focused on improving employee capabilities, with annual per-establishment caps tiered by course: HR Development Support 10M, Investment in People Promotion 25M, Business Expansion Reskilling Support up to 100M JPY (time-limited through the end of Reiwa 8/FY2026). Expense subsidy rate 45%–75% + wage subsidy

Maximum SubsidyBy course: HR Development 10M JPY / Investment in People 25M JPY / Business Expansion Reskilling 100M JPY (time-limited)

Overview

Key Facts at a Glance

HR Development Support Course

10M JPY

Per-establishment annual expense-subsidy cap

Investment in People Promotion Course

25M JPY

Per-establishment annual expense-subsidy cap

Business Expansion Reskilling

100M JPY

Time-limited measure (through the end of Reiwa 8/FY2026), not a universal cap

Eligibility

Who Can Apply?

Must be an employment-insurance-covered establishment
Must submit a "Vocational Ability Development Promoter" appointment notification to the competent Labor Bureau before training starts
Must submit the "training implementation plan notification" 1 month before training starts
Training must be outsourced to an external provider or use a certified off-JT format
Training hours must meet the requirements (typically 10+ hours per course)
Trainee employees must be employment-insurance insured persons

Eligible Costs

Which Costs Qualify?

AI marketing and customer acquisition

Market analysis, customer-persona building, precise targeting of customer segments, and personalized marketing strategy formulation, improving acquisition capability and conversion rate

AI operations automation

Automating business processes such as order processing, inventory management, and customer service, reducing manual work and lowering operating costs

AI digital efficiency tools

How to use tools such as AI document processing, data analysis, and schedule management to comprehensively improve employee productivity

AI market analysis and decision-making

Using AI for industry market analysis and market-trend forecasting to provide data support for corporate strategic decisions

Other professional-skill training

Language training (Japanese / English), business management, professional-qualification courses, and more may also be included in the application

Application Process

From Consultation to Receipt, 5 Steps

Free consultation and training-plan confirmation

Confirm whether the training content meets the grant requirements, choose the appropriate application framework, and focus on assessing the fit of hands-on AI courses.

Appoint a "Vocational Ability Development Promoter"

Appoint an internal person in charge of vocational training at the establishment and submit the appointment notification to the Labor Bureau; we help prepare all documents.

Submit the training implementation plan

One month before training starts, submit the training implementation plan to the Labor Bureau, specifying the training provider, content, duration, trainees, etc.

Conduct the training and keep records

Complete the training as planned and retain all supporting materials — attendance records, completion certificates issued by the training provider, expense receipts, etc.

Submit the disbursement application and receive the grant

Submit the disbursement application within 2 months after training ends; once approved, the grant is transferred to your account (about 3–5 months).

Required Documents

Main Documents Needed to Apply

Training implementation plan (submitted 1 month before training starts)
Vocational Ability Development Promoter appointment notification
Employment-insurance insured-person-related documents
Training provider's quotation / contract
Trainee attendance records / attendance ledger
Completion certificates issued by the training provider
Expense receipts (training fees, facility fees, etc.)
Wage-payment details (during the training period)

※ These are the main documents; the specific files required vary by application type and company situation. We provide full document-checklist support.

FAQ

FAQs about the Employee Training Grant

QCan the business owner's own training be covered by the grant?

ANo. The Employee Training Grant applies only to employment-insurance insured persons (employed staff); business owners are usually not enrolled in employment insurance and are therefore not eligible. However, employees (including foreign-national employees) can all apply.

QHow much subsidy can hands-on AI courses receive?

AThe subsidy consists of two parts: ① expense subsidy — SMEs receive 45%–75% of training fees by training type (add-ons possible when requirements such as wage increases / qualification allowances are met); ② wage subsidy — 800–1,000 JPY per person per hour of training (capped at 1,200 hours per person per training). If courses such as AI marketing and AI operations automation fall under "advanced digital human-resource training / growth-field human-resource training," the expense subsidy rate can reach 75%, but must meet official training certification. Reaching the "millions per person" level is only possible under specific long-duration training plus add-ons and is not a general standard.

QDoes the company have to advance the training fees first?

AYes, the grant system works on an advance-then-reimburse basis. The company must pay the training fees first, submit the application after completing the training, and receive the grant back once approved. We recommend choosing a training program with a reasonable amount that your cash flow can accommodate.

QCan online courses (e-learning) be applied for?

AYes. Online learning courses are also eligible, but must meet certain conditions: they must have completion-rate management functionality, record learning time, and be provided by an externally certified organization, etc. We can help confirm whether a specific course meets the requirements.

QWhat are the benefits of applying together with the Career-Up (Regularization) Grant?

AThe two systems can be combined and each grant received separately — this is not "doubling" but each being paid after meeting its own requirements. In addition, adopting "fixed-term practical training" and regularizing the employee after training can raise the expense subsidy rate. We will help you plan a sensible combination of training and regularization to maximize the funding return within compliance.

Data Source & Verification

The "100M JPY" is only the per-establishment annual cap for the "Business Expansion Reskilling Support Course"; general AI/IT training goes through the HR Development Support Course (10M) or the Investment in People Promotion Course (25M). ⚠️ Important time limit: the Business Expansion Reskilling Support Course and the Investment in People Promotion Course are limited to the Reiwa 4–8 (FY2022–FY2026) period; Reiwa 8 (through March 31, 2027) is the final year and the authority has not yet announced an extension — if you intend to use them, be sure to submit the plan notification within this fiscal year. This is a grant paid in principle when requirements are met; amounts are governed by the latest MHLW guidance (verified against the Reiwa 8/FY2026 basis; amounts unchanged from Reiwa 7).

Official source: 厚生労働省人材開発支援助成金 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare — Human Resource Development Grant)

Last verified: 2026-08-01

※ Subsidy/grant programs and amounts change with official public-offering guidelines; the authority's latest announcement prevails.