An analysis of the female labor force in Turkey

Women's participation in the workforce is important for the economic development and social welfare of a country. This study comprehensively examines the historical development of the female workforce in Türkiye, its current structure, and the socio-economic and cultural obstacles it faces. The importance of women's participation in the workforce in terms of economic development, social welfare, and gender equality is emphasized; Türkiye's performance in this area is evaluated by comparing it with the European Union (EU) countries. In the study, it was determined that the main factors affecting women's participation in the workforce are education level, marital status, age, unregistered employment rates and gender-based division of labor. The literature review and data-based analyses conducted within the scope of the thesis revealed that not only legal regulations but also social policies targeting cultural transformation are necessary to increase women's participation in the workforce in Türkiye. In line with the successful examples implemented in the European Union countries; it was concluded that holistic policies such as flexible working models, nursery support, expansion of maternity leaves, combating unregistered employment and encouraging women's entrepreneurship are applicable for Türkiye. Ensuring women's full and equal participation in the workforce will increase economic freedom and social participation at the individual level; it will also be a fundamental building block for Turkey's economic development goals and gender equality policies. Female labor, gender roles