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Apprenticeship shortage threatens Turkish & Syrian crafts
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2026-07-29 15:28 UTC → 2026-07-31 09:03 UTC ·
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Apprenticeship shortage threatens Turkish traditional & Syrian crafts face apprentice shortage
In late July 2026, two separate reports highlighted a growing crisis among ageing aging artisans in Turkey. Mustafa Yılmaz, across Turkey and Syria reported a 54‑year‑old deepening apprenticeship gap that threatens the survival of centuries‑old crafts. Wood‑sieve maker Mustafa Yılmaz of wooden sieves in Gaziantep, Gaziantep warned that his trade is nearing extinction as factories replace are displacing his hand‑made screens and that he cannot attract apprentices trainees despite offering a daily wage. Within days, Hasan Usta, a Around the same time, 74‑year‑old tire‑repair specialist Hasan Usta in Ordu Province, Province echoed the same problem, noting that young younger people prefer modern occupations over manual crafts. Both artisans stressed that without new trainees their skills will disappear. The second occupations. A third report also referenced highlighted Syrian woodcarver wood‑carver Eyman Said, whose family has preserved a 1,400‑year‑old carving tradition faces similar succession challenges, illustrating that 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 apprentice shortage extends beyond Turkey’s borders need for apprentices; jewelry‑industry leader Kerim Güzeliş warned that regulatory barriers and affects diverse the rise of 3D design technologies are eroding traditional crafts 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 region. next decade.
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- 2026-07-31 09:03 UTC Apprenticeship shortage threatens Turkish & Syrian crafts
- 2026-07-29 15:28 UTC Turkish traditional crafts face apprentice shortage
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