- “While the labor force participation rate for women in Turkiye is 35%, it is 71% for men, creating a major obstacle to economic development.”
- “The lack of caregiving services is one of the biggest factors that hinder women’s participation in the workforce.”
- “Digitalization and green transformation offer critical areas for employment opportunities for women through flexible working options.”
- “The ‘glass ceiling’ effect prevents women from advancing in career and promotion ladders.”
- “Despite the constitutional amendment in 2004, which states ‘Women and men have equal rights,’ gender equality has not been achieved in practice.”
- “Supporting female entrepreneurship is not only a step towards job creation but also a key to economic development.”
Women’s labor force participation in Turkiye continues to lag behind global standards. The ActHuman report “Barriers & Opportunities in Women’s Employment and Workforce: A Guide for Progress,” prepared in partnership between INGEV (Human Development Foundation) and the Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) at Sabancı University, offers a comprehensive roadmap addressing this issue. The report proposes innovative solutions to increase women’s workforce participation and ensure gender equality, providing actionable strategies for the public, private sectors, and civil society.
Vural Çakır: “Empowering Women Economically Will Save Our Future Generations”
INGEV President Vural Çakır emphasized that economically disadvantaged women, confined within four walls and left dependent, are hindered from taking care of their children effectively. Çakır added:
“Economically empowering women is the most effective way to secure the future of our children, like Narin, who was laid to rest in a bridal gown. May she rest in peace. We are committed to doing everything in our power to ensure that girls like Narin grow up as educated, skilled, and economically empowered individuals. Our children will be safer to the extent that their mothers are economically strong, and society supports this.”
Sabancı University Lecturer Dr. Esra Durceylan Kaygusuz: “We Provide Comprehensive and Concrete Suggestions”
Rapporteur Esra Durceylan Kaygusuz noted that the report meticulously analyzes the multi-dimensional barriers affecting women’s labor force participation in Turkiye:
“It is essential that the report, drawing from the insights of civil society, the private sector, and public institutions, approaches the problem from multiple dimensions and establishes a roadmap. All participants agree that the root cause of factors limiting women’s labor force participation is gender inequality. All policy recommendations aimed at increasing women’s presence in the workforce also seek to strengthen women within the family and society. The positive impacts of women’s employment on the welfare and human capital of future generations, especially girls, demonstrate that women’s participation in the workforce benefits not only women but also society as a whole.”
To read the full report, please click here: https://INGEV.org/raporlar/Kadin-Istihdami-ve-Is-Gucu-Ileri-Gitmek-icin-Bir-Kilavuz.pdf (Only in Turkish)