Workers in Informal Employment in Türkiye: A Statistical Profile, 2019-2023
This Statistical Brief explores changes in employment trends in Türkiye between 2019 and 2023, with a focus on workers in informal employment. It highlights the significant rebound in national employment following pandemic-related losses, with formal employment accounting for the majority of the gains. The brief pays special attention to four key groups in the informal economy — domestic workers, home-based workers, market traders, and street vendors — offering insights into how these occupations have evolved over time and how gender shapes employment patterns within them.
A central objective of the brief is to document how informal employment is distributed across sectors and cities, noting that agriculture remains the dominant sector nationally and in urban areas, while non-trade services are more prominent in Istanbul. The brief also tracks a notable rise in women’s employment across the four worker groups, growing from 8% to 11% of total employment during the period. It examines the shifting industries of women home-based workers and highlights increasing work hours among both men and women. Overall, the brief aims to provide a data-driven understanding of how informal workers — especially women — are navigating structural shifts in Türkiye.
View list of all: Statistical Briefs
