Publication: Female Labor Force Participation in Turkey : Trends, Determinants and Policy Framework
Date
2009-11-23
ISSN
Published
2009-11-23
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
Turkey has been collaborating with the
World Bank in developing macroeconomic policies and
implementing various reforms such as social security,
investment climate, competitiveness, labor market, and
public sector management. One of the salient features of the
labor market in Turkey is the distinctly lower labor force
participation (LFP) rates of women. As of January 2009,
female LFP in Turkey was 23.5 percent. Urbanization and the
move out of subsistence agriculture have had a profound
effect on employment patterns for women, especially among
those who have not attained university education. Family
farming and subsistence agriculture have become less and
less important as other more attractive opportunities expand
in the service and manufacturing sectors. In the ninth
development plan the Turkish Government has set goals to
increase the number of women who are actively employed. The
national action plan for gender equality emphasizes that
using women's talents and skills in the labor market
not only provides families with more economic independence,
but also increases women's self-confidence and social
respectability. Higher female employment is instrumental in
building capacity for economic growth and poverty reduction.
Higher levels of female employment allow government
investments in education to be used more efficiently as
women use their acquired talents. Policies that can help
improve women's opportunities for more and better jobs
in Turkey include: (a) creating job opportunities for first
time job seekers; and (b) promoting early childhood
development programs (ECD), such as preschool education and
public or subsidized childcare programs.
Citation
“World Bank. 2009. Female Labor Force Participation in Turkey : Trends, Determinants and Policy Framework. © Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/6e1804f3-b260-535b-a9bc-6ed53004db88 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”