Turkey employment and job vacancy data shows sector shifts

Data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) shows that the number of paid employees in Turkey's construction sector reached 2,079,820 in August 2026, representing a 3.4% increase compared to the same month the previous year. While the construction sector saw annual growth, monthly employment remained stable compared to July 2026.

Across the combined industry, trade, and service sectors, the total number of paid employees rose by 2% annually to over 16.4 million. In contrast, the industrial sector experienced a 1% annual decline in employment.

Additionally, İŞKUR reported that job vacancies in Turkey increased during the first nine months of 2026, totaling 1,843,569 openings. In the province of Van, job vacancies rose by 1.16% year-on-year to 8,609, with the vast majority located in the private sector.