Evaluation of the knowledge society effects on employment from Turkey perspective

How the transformation to a knowledge society will create in terms of employment will affect Turkey and what measures should be taken are critical questions that need to be answered. Despite the positive approach that emphasizes that technological developments and the increase in usage in the knowledge society will cause employment losses in the short term, and that the unemployed can find new jobs by creating new jobs and employment opportunities in the long term, besides the negative approach that the demand for labor will decrease, causing employment losses and creating an unemployed mass. There are different approaches to the use of technology, such as labor-technology balance. Which of the different approaches will become functional for Turkey has been evaluated with the Integrated Systems Approach to Social Problems, which allows analysis without setting definite boundaries between the sub-fields of the social whole within the framework of holistic and multi-system interaction relations. Within the framework of this approach, considering the economic situation, demographic structure and position of Turkey in its transformation into a knowledge society since the beginning of the 21st century, the current labor force, the appearance of employment and unemployment, and the relationship between growth and employment on a sectoral basis, employment risks, problems and adequacy of the labor force in the face of technology, automation and qualified labor force demand, and the contribution of the education system in this competence have been revealed. In addition, the adequacy of the system against the effects of the national employment strategy on the labor market and employment approach, income distribution and poverty level on the current social security system has been examined. Turkey's fragile and unstable structure in the economy, technology use and production level, its position as an importer in technology, its appearance in international indicators and indices show that it is not at a sufficient level for transformation into a knowledge society. Considering the current education level, labor force quality and skill level of individuals in the employment distribution of Turkey, the transformation process does not create a significant change on labor force, employment and unemployment, when high technology and automation become widespread, the risk of losing their jobs in the face of qualified labor demand will increase, and new jobs will also emerge. It has been concluded that employment opportunities will decrease and unemployment will gradually increase. Turkey's position in the transformation process reveals the importance of creating a new democratic environment, economic, social, cultural and technological policies to be implemented, employment strategy, a modern education system, and a social protection and security system that will encompass the entire society. In the study, it was understood that employment policies should be designed not only to reduce unemployment but also to be a tool for adaptation to the knowledge society. Keywords: Knowledge Society, Technological Change, Labor, Employment, Unemployment.