Apprenticeship shortage threatens Turkish & Syrian crafts

In late July 2026, aging artisans across Turkey and Syria reported a deepening apprenticeship gap that threatens the survival of centuries‑old crafts.

Wood‑sieve maker Mustafa Yılmaz of Gaziantep warned that factories are displacing his hand‑made screens and that he cannot attract trainees despite offering a daily wage. Around the same time, 74‑year‑old tire‑repair specialist Hasan Usta in Ordu Province echoed the same problem, noting that younger people prefer modern occupations.

A third report highlighted Syrian wood‑carver Eyman Said, whose family has preserved a 1,400‑year‑old carving tradition, and his difficulty finding a successor.

A follow‑up snapshot on 29 July added further voices: wood‑carving master Yavuz Kırküzer (Erzurum) stressed the need for apprentices; jewelry‑industry leader Kerim Güzeliş warned that regulatory barriers and the rise of 3D design technologies are eroding traditional jeweller‑artisan training; and Hasan Usta reiterated the lack of interest among youth. All four figures point to a regional crisis in apprenticeship pathways that endangers the transmission of skilled craftsmanship.

The consensus across these reports is that without concerted effort to establish viable training routes, many historic trades risk disappearing within the next decade.