- While the labor force participation rate for women in Türkiye is 35%, it is 71% for men. This represents a significant barrier to economic development.
- The lack of care services is one of the biggest factors making it difficult for women to participate in the workforce.
- Digitalization and the green transition will create critical opportunities for women by offering flexible working options and increasing employment opportunities.
- The ‘glass ceiling’ effect women encounter in the workplace hinders their promotion and career progression.
- Despite adding the ‘Women and men have equal rights’ provision to the Constitution in 2004, gender equality has not been achieved in Türkiye.
- Supporting women’s entrepreneurship is one of the key steps to create employment and foster economic development.
Women’s participation in the workforce in Türkiye continues to lag behind global standards. The ActHuman report titled “Women’s Employment and Barriers & Opportunities in the Workforce: A Guide for Moving Forward,” prepared in collaboration between İNGEV (Human Development Foundation) and Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) at Sabancı University, presents a comprehensive roadmap to address this issue. The report offers innovative solutions to increase women’s participation in the workforce and promote gender equality, featuring actionable strategies for public, private, and civil society organizations.
Vural Çakır: “Empowering Women Economically Will Save Narins”
İNGEV President Vural Çakır pointed out that economically disempowered, vulnerable women confined to their homes are prevented from protecting their children. He added:
“Economically empowering women is the most effective way to save the future of our children. Narin was buried in a coffin in a wedding dress. May God have mercy on her. We are doing everything we can to ensure that women like Narin can become educated, skilled, and economically empowered individuals beyond that wedding dress. Our children will be safer as long as their mothers are economically strong and society supports this.”
Dr. Esra Durceylan Kaygusuz: “We Offer Comprehensive and Concrete Recommendations”
Dr. Esra Durceylan Kaygusuz, the rapporteur, emphasized that the multi-dimensional barriers affecting women’s participation in the workforce in Türkiye were thoroughly analyzed, stating:
“It is very important that the report is informed by the joint ideas of civil society, the private sector, and public institutions. All participants agree that the common denominator of the factors restricting women’s participation in the workforce is gender inequality. All policy recommendations aiming to create more space for women in working life also aim to empower women within the family and society. The positive impacts of women’s work on the well-being and human capital of future generations, particularly for girls, show that women’s work is not only important for women but also for the overall welfare of society.”
Six Key Areas for Women’s Economic Empowerment
The report highlights six key areas of progress that include strategic recommendations to enable women to participate more actively in the workforce. These recommendations aim to provide tangible solutions at the local level and contribute to large-scale societal changes:
- Progress through Defined Protocols: It is emphasized that processes to increase women’s participation in the workforce should follow a well-defined and standardized protocol, improving the performance and effectiveness of women in the workforce.
- Localization and Local Advisory Boards: It is recommended that local differences be taken into account. Strategies localized at provincial, district, and regional levels, along with local advisory boards, will help meet the needs of employers and female employees more effectively.
- Targeting the Right Segments: Strategies aimed at the female workforce must be realistically and appropriately targeted. Programs designed based on women’s skills and needs can increase employment rates.
- Breaking Away from Traditional Roles: The business world should take bolder and more innovative steps to ensure women are represented not only in traditional jobs but also in various sectors. Policies should be developed to encourage women to participate more in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
- Competitive Wage Policies: Creating wage levels and income potential that can compete with household services will enable greater participation of women in the workforce, especially in economically disadvantaged areas.
- Supporting Women’s Entrepreneurship: Financial literacy, digital skills training, and mentorship programs should be created to increase women’s participation in entrepreneurship. This will empower female entrepreneurs, allowing them better access to finance and enabling them to develop more sustainable business models.
Strategic Policy Recommendations for Increasing Women’s Employment
The strategic policy recommendations presented in the report encourage concrete steps to be taken across various fields to increase women’s participation in the workforce. These recommendations cover a wide range of areas, from education to workplace gender equality, care services to digitalization and the green transition. It is emphasized that a comprehensive strategy is needed to ensure women play a more active role in economic life.
Here are some key policy recommendations from the report:
- Access to Education and Representation of Women in STEM Fields
Women’s access to education and their field choices in higher education play a critical role in their participation in the workforce. The report suggests developing scholarships, mentorship programs, and incentive policies to increase women’s representation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Women who are directed toward STEM fields will be able to play important roles in the digital and green economies of the future. Women’s participation in these fields will not only increase employment rates but also contribute to gender equality.
Recommendations:
- Scholarship programs should be created to encourage women to pursue STEM fields.
- Mentorship programs and role models should be used to guide girls into these fields.
- Quotas that account for gender balance in STEM fields should be introduced in vocational schools and universities.
- Gender Equality in the Workplace and Prevention of Discrimination
One of the biggest challenges women face in working life is gender discrimination and the glass ceiling effect. The report highlights the need to develop policies that promote gender equality in the workplace to support women’s career progression. Leadership programs and equal pay policies should be implemented to reduce the glass ceiling effect and ensure women are more represented in managerial positions.
Recommendations:
- Gender equality policies should be established and implemented in workplaces.
- Regular audits and evaluations should be conducted to prevent discrimination in women’s promotion processes.
- Supportive elements like childcare services and daycare should be expanded in workplaces to help women balance work and life.
- Leadership programs and training should be organized to help women reach senior managerial positions.
- Expansion of Care Services
One of the most significant factors hindering women’s participation in the workforce is the lack of care services. Childcare, eldercare, and household responsibilities often fall on women, which limits their involvement in working life. The report emphasizes the need for the expansion of care services and making these services accessible through state support.
Recommendations:
- Daycare centers, childcare facilities, and eldercare services should be expanded and offered to families through state-supported programs.
- The obligation to provide daycare in workplaces should be strictly monitored, and sanctions should be applied to workplaces that do not provide these services.
- Policies to increase employment in the care economy should be developed, and women’s participation in the workforce should be encouraged through professional care services.
- Women’s Role in Digital and Green Transformation
Digitalization and the green transition offer significant opportunities to increase women’s employment. The report notes that training and support programs for women to gain digital and green skills should be created. Employment opportunities in these areas will enable women to adapt more easily to flexible working conditions and increase their participation in the workforce.
Recommendations:
- Digital skills training for women should be provided, and their employment in the digital sector should be encouraged.
- Job opportunities for women in the green economy, especially in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and recycling sectors, should be increased.
- Women’s access to technological equipment and the internet should be supported to ensure they are not left behind in the digitalization process.
- Supporting Women’s Entrepreneurship
One of the most effective ways to support women’s participation in the workforce is to encourage entrepreneurship. Women’s active role in business life is crucial not only for creating employment but also for economic growth. Mentorship and financial support programs should be implemented to overcome the financial and managerial challenges women entrepreneurs face.
Recommendations:
- Access to finance for women entrepreneurs should be facilitated, and grant programs should be expanded.
- Financial literacy training and digital marketing support should be provided to strengthen women entrepreneurs in the business world.
- Women entrepreneurs should be supported with digital platforms and e-commerce opportunities to grow their existing businesses and enter new markets.
- Work-Life Balance Practices
Flexible working models that help women maintain a work-life balance should be developed to ensure their long-term participation in the workforce. Especially during the post-birth return to work, flexible working models and parental leave policies should be expanded to prevent women from being disadvantaged.
Recommendations:
- Flexible working models should be regulated by the state, and the implementation of workplace policies should be monitored.
- Programs should be developed in cooperation with the state and employers to support women returning to work after maternity leave.
- Gender equality should be considered in terms of parental leave durations and rights, and non-transferable leave periods for fathers should be increased.
Conclusion and Concrete Recommendations
The report emphasizes that women’s participation in the workforce in Türkiye is critical for gender equality and economic growth. However, inadequate care services, gender-based discrimination in education, the glass ceiling effect in workplaces, and societal norms seriously hinder women’s participation in the workforce. Concrete steps must be taken to overcome these challenges.
Women’s involvement in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields will increase their representation in these areas and promote their participation in the digital and green transitions. Furthermore, the expansion of care services and stricter enforcement of daycare obligations in workplaces will help women establish a work-life balance. Flexible working models, remote working, and flexible hours will also facilitate women’s participation in the workforce.
Finally, financial support and digital skills training should be provided to encourage women’s entrepreneurship, and leadership programs should be developed to nurture women leaders. The strict implementation of gender equality policies in workplaces will enable women to advance in their careers and increase their economic contributions.
About İNGEV:
İNGEV is an independent civil society organization that operates with the vision of becoming a reference for human development. By focusing on advocacy, research-based social policy recommendations, and implementation projects, İNGEV contributes to human development. Its primary focus is to improve the living standards of vulnerable groups, including low-income individuals, women, children, refugees, and those affected by climate change. İNGEV works with decision-makers at all levels, as well as with central and local governments, to achieve effective results. İNGEV also advocates for sustainable development goals, including decent work and economic growth, gender equality, reducing inequalities, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.
About Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) at Sabancı University:
Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) is a global policy research institution that specializes in key social and political issues ranging from democratization to climate change, transatlantic relations to conflict resolution and mediation. IPC organizes and conducts its research under six main clusters:
• The Istanbul Policy Center-Sabancı University-Stiftung Mercator Initiative
• Climate Change
• Democratization and Institutional Reform
• SHURA Energy Transition Center
• Urbanization and Local Governance
• Conflict Resolution, Mediation and Living Together
Since 2001, IPC has provided decision makers, opinion leaders, and other major stakeholders with objective analyses and innovative policy recommendations.
Contact:
İNGEV – N. Berk Çoker – berk.coker@ingev.org
Istanbul Policy Center (IPC) – Cana Tülüş – cana.tulus@sabanciuniv.edu