For over 100 years, March 8, International Women’s Day, has been recognized worldwide—not just as a celebration but as a symbol of the fight for equal rights in the workforce. In Türkiye, as in the rest of the world, women’s employment, equal opportunities, and economic independence remain critical challenges.
So, where does women’s employment stand in Türkiye? Are incentives sufficient? How many women hold leadership positions in the workplace? Esra Bezircioglu, President of the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Türkiye (KAGIDER), shared her insights with CNBCE.com.
Rising Awareness of Gender Equality in Business
Bezircioglu highlighted that awareness of gender equality in Türkiye’s business sector has significantly increased in recent years. She emphasized the impact of:
- Incentives introduced by the private and public sectors,
- Projects supported by international organizations,
- Initiatives led by civil society organizations.
“These efforts are helping to strengthen women’s representation in the business world,” she said.
Women’s Employment Rate in Türkiye Remains Low
Despite progress, women’s participation in the workforce remains significantly lower than men’s. Bezircioglu pointed to Türkiye’s Statistics Institute (TÜİK) Q4 2024 data, revealing:
- Women’s employment rate: 32.5%
- Men’s employment rate: 67.5%
“This significant gap shows how major the barriers to women’s economic participation still are,” she stated.
As Türkiye continues to push for gender equality in employment and leadership, organizations like KAGIDER stress the urgent need to increase the number of women in executive roles to build a more inclusive and diverse business environment.
Source: CNBC-e/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök