[REVISION HISTORY]

Turkey public sector spending, employment, and recruitment

Updated 8 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-16 04:56 UTC → 2026-09-17 11:16 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In the first half of 2026, Turkish public sector travel, meals, and accommodation expenses reached 14.6 billion lira, continuing an upward trend from 2.5 billion lira in 2021 and a 28.8 billion lira peak in 2025. Despite official directives to minimize such assignments under austerity measures, 13,738 personnel from 182 institutions were assigned to overseas duties for training, meetings, and conferences. Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek reported that Savings Measures implemented during 2024 and 2025 generated 484 billion lira in savings. While the government highlights these fiscal achievements as support for the disinflation process, political figures like Yavuz Ağıralioğlu have questioned whether savings result from “preventing waste or from delaying essential investments and public services.” Regarding the workforce, total public sector employment reached 5,417,126 in the second quarter of 2026, an increase of 127,677 people compared to the same period last year. This workforce includes 3,582,025 permanent staff, 1,267,501 permanent workers, and 419,801 contracted personnel. Administrations under the general budget account for 67.9% of this employment. Employment in municipal economic enterprises also grew by 31,015 to reach 696,178. Recruitment activity remains active across various institutions. The Revenue Administration is seeking 860 assistant revenue specialists, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is looking for 80 diplomats, and the Turkish Standards Institution has announced openings for technical and administrative roles. Additionally, several universities and municipalities are recruiting for healthcare, security, and administrative positions, while candidates await official vacancy announcements from the Post and Telegraph Organization (PTT). In September 2026, the Ministry of Family and Social Services ~~launched a specific~~ opened the preference period for public employment under Social Services Law No. 2828. ~~This process allows beneficiaries of~~ Eligible individuals, including those who grew up under state ~~protection to apply for~~ protection, may submit up to 30 ~~positions based on their educational background~~ preferences via the e-Devlet ~~gateway.~~ gateway until September 24, 2026. The Ministry of Justice is participating in this process, offering 190 positions across various educational levels. In the higher education sector, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz announced that funding for the Research Universities Support Program (ADEP) has risen significantly, from 115.2 million lira in 2022 to 1.4 billion lira in 2026, supporting 548 projects. Recent academic restructuring detailed in the Official Gazette includes the establishment of a new faculty at Amasya University and an institute at Karadeniz Technical University, while certain faculties at Yaşar University have been closed. Regarding broader economic and administrative planning, preparations for the 2027 Public Investment Program have begun. The program is expected to prioritize fiscal discipline, inflation control, and efficient resource allocation in accordance with the Twelfth Development Plan. Additionally, the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) has announced recruitment for professional staff, and a new TİHEK office is being established in Istanbul.

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