Turkish textile employment drops below 1M in 2024: Social Security Institution

Employment in Türkiye’s textile and apparel sectors shrunk to 959,395 with 65,581 job cuts in 2024, marking a return below the 1 million employment threshold for the first time in four years.

According to data compiled from the Social Security Institution (SGK), the textile and apparel sectors in Türkiye saw a total employment loss of 65,581 jobs in 2024, with 52,768 job cuts in the apparel industry and 12,813 in the textile sector.

Meanwhile, the number of companies operating in the textile and apparel sectors also dropped from 61,352 to 59,101.

Challenges mount in the industry

According to business-focused ekonomim.com, Türkiye’s textile and apparel industry has been grappling with increasing job losses in recent years. The apparel sector, dominated by small businesses, has been hit particularly hard, with employment losses exceeding 163,000 over the past two years.

The industry has been significantly affected by global economic uncertainty, rising production costs, currency depreciation, and shrinking demand in export markets. In particular, minimum wage hikes and high financing costs have placed additional financial strain on businesses, leading to further reductions in employment.

Falling export demand and rising imports of low-cost products from East Asia have further challenged the sector’s competitiveness. Industry representatives emphasize the need for stronger government incentives, employment-protection policies, and measures to support domestic production against import pressures to safeguard the future of Türkiye’s textile and apparel industries.