Türkiye launches employment strategy to raise female participation above 40%

Türkiye unveiled its National Employment Strategy for 2025-2028, aiming to reduce the unemployment rate to 7.5% and informal employment to 23.4% by 2028. The strategy also seeks to increase the employment rate to 52.5% and female workforce participation to 40.1%.

According to the latest report by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), Türkiye’s unemployment rate in November 2024 stood at 8.6%, while the employment rate was 49.6%.

Meanwhile, the workforce participation rate was 67.1% for men and 32.4% for women.

A presidential decree approving the National Employment Strategy, prepared by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, was published in the Official Gazette on Saturday.

Four pillars of Türkiye’s National Employment Strategy

The strategy is built upon four key policy areas:

• Promoting green and digital transformation in the labor market: This policy focuses on strengthening the link between education and employment, ensuring a fair and inclusive adaptation of the labor market to green and digital transitions.
• Enhancing inclusive employment: The aim is to increase workforce participation among women, youth not engaged in education or employment (NEETs), people with disabilities, the elderly, and international migrant workers. The policy also prioritizes securing decent working conditions for these groups.

• Strengthening the link between social protection and employment: This policy seeks to expand social protection coverage and its connection to employment, ensuring equal access to fundamental rights while addressing barriers to workforce participation.
• Developing sustainable employment in rural areas: The goal is to boost economic diversity in rural areas, curb migration to cities, and expand access to formal and inclusive employment. It also aims to improve the working and living conditions of seasonal agricultural workers and ensure a just transition to sustainability.

The objectives and policies outlined in the National Employment Strategy will be implemented through a detailed action plan consisting of 88 measures.