Kitakyushu City Wage-Increase Subsidy, Incentive and Over-65 Employment Subsidy: Until March 2027Kitakyushu City adds more money on top of national grants
Kitakyushu City is again running programs in FY2026 that add to national grants (the Business Improvement Subsidy and the Over-65 Employment Promotion Subsidy). The wage-increase Support Subsidy and the new Incentive must be received by March 5, 2027, and the Over-65 Employment Support Subsidy (new in FY2026) by March 10, 2027. Because they are paid within the budget, acceptance can end earlier.
Key points
- Support Subsidy: for workplaces in the city that received a grant decision for the Business Improvement Subsidy from the Fukuoka Labour Bureau on or after April 1, 2025, and a notice of the final amount by February 28, 2027. It covers up to 2/10 of eligible costs such as equipment investment (national and city support together are capped at 95% of costs)
- Incentive (new): for businesses that received a Business Improvement Subsidy decision between April 1, 2026 and February 28, 2027 and raised the in-house minimum wage by JPY 70 or more. JPY 100,000 per worker whose wage is raised, up to JPY 500,000 per business
- Both the Support Subsidy and the Incentive: apply from May 1, 2026 to March 5, 2027 (Fri), received by that date
- Over-65 Employment Support Subsidy: for small and medium-sized businesses in the city that received a payment decision from JEED for the Over-65 Employment Promotion Subsidy (Over-65 Continued Employment Promotion Course) between April 1, 2026 and February 28, 2027 (also those that applied in FY2025 and were decided on or after April 1, 2026). The amount is half of the national payment, up to JPY 250,000. Apply May 1, 2026 to March 10, 2027 (received by that date)
- All are paid within the budget, so acceptance may end during the period
What to do in practice
- First check whether you qualify for the national grants (Business Improvement Subsidy, Over-65 Employment Promotion Subsidy)
- Check that the dates of the national grant decision fall within the city's eligible period
- Plan the schedule so that the city's deadlines (March 5 and March 10) do not come before your national procedures are done
When a company raises pay or lets people over 65 keep working, the national government has programs that pay part of the cost. Kitakyushu City adds more on top. The application deadline is in March 2027.
- 1. Apply nationallyApply for the national grant
- 2. DecisionReceive the national decision notice
- 3. Apply to cityApply to Kitakyushu City by the deadline
- 4. Top-upReceive the city's subsidy or incentive
Points
- If a company that raises pay gets a national grant, the city adds to it
- The city also adds to support for companies where people can keep working past 65
- The money is limited, so it can run out before the deadline
What the words mean
- Business Improvement Subsidy
- A national grant that supports small businesses that raise wages and install equipment
- Incentive
- Money given like a reward for a good effort
- City of Kitakyushu: Kitakyushu City: FY2026 Productivity and Wage Increase Support Subsidy and Incentive
- City of Kitakyushu: Kitakyushu City: FY2026 Over-65 Employment Support Subsidy (new)
This article summarizes and explains materials published by government agencies and is not advice on any individual case. Rules can change, so for actual procedures and decisions always check the latest original materials and consult professionals such as tax accountants or labor and social security attorneys. English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese versions are translations prepared from the Japanese articles for convenience. If anything differs, the Japanese text and the original source take precedence.