Employment and Skills Strategies in Turkey
This report on Turkey takes a case study approach, analysing the management and implementation of policies in the provinces of Kocaeli and Trabzon. It provides a comparative framework to understand the role of the local labour market policy in matching people to jobs, engaging employers in skills development activities, as well as fostering new growth and economic development opportunities. It includes practical policy examples of actions taken in Turkey to help workers find better quality jobs, while also stimulating productivity and inclusion.
Preface
After years of economic expansion, Turkey’s economy faces a number of critical challenges, which could place significant downward pressures on the growth potential of the economy. Unemployment has increased since 2012 and stood at 11.7% in 2016, well above the OECD average. Despite this trend, overall employment has continued to grow. The number of people employed grew by an average annual rate of 3.0% between 2004 and 2013. Turkey is divided into 81 provinces that have strong regional disparities in terms of the distribution of jobs and skills. It is therefore critical to look at the role of local policies in fostering quality job creation, economic development and entrepreneurship opportunities.