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1. Youth employment measures

2. Flexicurity measures focusing on young people

3. Reconciliation of private and working life for young people

4. Funding of existing schemes/initiatives

5. Quality assurance

Youth employment measures

The Twelfth Development Plan (2024-2028) and the Strategic Plan of the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) for 2024-2028 emphasize integrating young people into the labor market through active labor policies, vocational training, and industry-specific adaptation programs. The plan highlights digital transformation, green jobs, and vocational skill development as key focus areas. Ensuring that young people acquire the necessary skills for the evolving labor market and supporting their transition into employment remain top priorities.

In line with these objectives, the main policy measures include:

• Aligning vocational training with labor market needs by enhancing cooperation between educational institutions and industries,

• Expanding digital and green job training to prepare young people for emerging professions,

• Increasing the effectiveness of active labor market programs such as vocational training courses and on-the-job training programs,

• Strengthening financial incentives such as loan programs, grants, and social security premium support for young entrepreneurs and first-time job seekers.

As part of Türkiye’s active labor market policies, İŞKUR plays a significant role in supporting youth employment through various programs. On-the-job training programs offer young people the opportunity to gain work experience, while vocational training courses help individuals acquire new skills. In 2024, a total of 65,739 young people (26,851 men and 38,888 women) participated in on-the-job training programs. These programs primarily benefit the younger population, with 75% of participants aged 15-29, 21% aged 30-44, and only 4% aged 45 and above.

The KOSGEB Entrepreneur Support Program aims to strengthen the sustainability of newly established businesses by providing financial assistance for business development. In 2024, the program significantly increased its financial support, offering up to 1.5 million TL in reimbursable support with an 80% funding rate for expenses such as personnel costs, machinery and equipment, software, and service procurements. Additionally, entrepreneurs who are young, women, disabled, veterans, or first-degree relatives of martyrs receive an additional 150,000 TL in support. The program plays a crucial role in fostering entrepreneurship and ensuring long-term business viability in Türkiye.

To promote youth employment and reduce labor costs for employers, Türkiye offers several social security premium incentives funded through the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Private sector employers hiring previously unemployed individuals can benefit from social security premium support for a designated period, reducing the financial burden on businesses.

Under the current scheme, employers hiring women aged 18 and above are eligible for premium support for a duration ranging from 24 to 54 months, while employers hiring men aged 18-29 can benefit from support for 12 to 54 months. For men aged 29 and above, the support period ranges from 6 to 30 months. Additionally, employers hiring individuals who have obtained a vocational qualification certificate, completed vocational and technical training, or participated in workforce development programs receive premium support for 12 months. If the individual was registered with İŞKUR before employment, this support period is extended by an additional 6 months.

In 2022, trainings were held and certificates and documents were issued to 15,724 individuals, as part of the "Agricultural Population is Getting Younger" and "I am the Livestock Management Staff" projects by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism applies the GENÇDES program which is aimed to enhance participation to cultural and artistic events and to allow realization of projects in various fields of arts.

Flexicurity measures focusing on young people

The concept of flexicurity, which refers to achieving a balance between flexibility in labor markets and employment security, has been an integral part of Türkiye’s policy framework since the Seventh Five-Year Development Plan (1996-2000). The Eighth Five-Year Development Plan (2001-2005) emphasized the need for secure flexibility in labor markets. The Ninth Development Plan (2007-2013) reinforced this approach by advocating for policies that ensure both flexibility and security in employment. The Tenth Development Plan (2014-2018) introduced a broader strategy to improve labor market efficiency by assessing secure flexible working, seniority indemnity, sub-employment, social dialogue, and active and passive labor market policies.

The 12th Development Plan (2024-2028) continues this approach, emphasizing the importance of labor market flexibility and the promotion of flexible working models. The plan specifically aims to implement programs to increase labor force participation, particularly for women and young people, while also introducing measures to make the labor market more flexible. Additionally, it highlights the role of financial incentives to encourage private sector engagement in youth employment schemes.

To support these policies, several regulatory frameworks and institutional mechanisms have been developed:

The Remote Work Regulation (2021) provides a legal basis for teleworking arrangements and sets guidelines for employer-employee agreements.

The Vocational and Technical Education Policy Document (2024) emphasizes the integration of digital skills and flexible learning into the labor market.

Reconciliation of private and working life for young people

The important factors that prevent young people from abandoning the labour market subsequent to marriage and having children are certain legal regulations ensuring a balance between private and working life (parent leave and other care leaves), institutional services (kindergartens, day nurseries, elder, disabled, patient care services) and working conditions of the labour market.

In Türkiye workplaces of both public and private sector are equipped with kindergartens although their number is not enough. In addition, Türkiye does not have a comprehensive service network in terms of transportation.

Regarding particularly maternity leave in Türkiye according to amendments made on the Law on Civil Servants No 657 for working young women:

“Civil servants will be provided with sixteen weeks of maternity leave, eight weeks before the expected date of birth and eight weeks after the birth.

Female civil servants will be provided with breast-feeding leave for three hours per day for the first six months and one and a half hour per week per day within the second six months as of the end of the maternity leave after the birth. Preferences of civil servants shall prevail in terms of the number and hours of the breast-feeding leave.

After the maternity leave female civil servants may work halftime for two months on first childbirth, for four months on second childbirth and for six months on third childbirth without additional breast-feeding leave provided that the child is alive. For multiple births one month shall be added to such time period. If the child is disable when he/she is born or if any disability is identified within twelve months after the birth then such time periods shall be twelve months. Working hours of civil servants shall be determined by the relevant institution.”

In recent years, the number of young women receiving higher education has increased. Consequently, the number of young women employed in professional fields has also risen in Türkiye. According to 2023 data, the labor force participation rate of women in Türkiye is 35.8%.

The 12th Development Plan includes measures to support the reconciliation of private and working life, particularly for women and young people:

• Article 334: Policies will be implemented to promote women’s labor force participation and support work-life balance.
• Article 685: Access to childcare services will be expanded, and workplaces will be encouraged to provide childcare facilities.

The Marriage Support Program for Young People, implemented by the Ministry of Family and Social Services, provides economic and social support for young couples preparing for marriage.

Financial Support: Approved applicants receive a 48-month, 2-year deferred, interest-free loan of 150,000 TL.

Educational and Counseling Support: Couples also benefit from pre- and post-marriage training and psychological counseling services to strengthen family structures.
 

Funding of existing schemes/initiatives

Although Türkiye has not a budget exclusively allocated to youth employment Turkish Employment Agency is engaged in activities relating to youth employment through the allocation from the general budget and its other incomes for active employment measures. In addition, youth employment and entrepreneurship practices are supported by allocations from the general budget by KOSGEB, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Quality assurance

Although there is not any separate mechanism or system for monitoring employment measures and projects applied for young people quality is ensured by means of strategic plans, activity reports and annual programs of relevant establishments.