Labour market and working poverty in Turkey: A gender-based analysis

In this study, the impact of gender-based differences in the labour market on working poverty, as well as the relationship between gender inequality in working life and in-work poverty in Turkey, was examined using the 2023 Microdata Set of the Income and Living Conditions Survey (GYKA) conducted by TurkStat. Poverty is defined as the inability of individuals to meet their basic needs and to remain below minimum living standards; it is considered as a multidimensional problem with types such as absolute, relative, humanitarian, rural-urban, temporary-chronic. Working poverty, on the other hand, emerges as a situation where individuals are unable to earn sufficient income despite being employed, and is deepened by reasons such as globalization, informal economy, low wages, changes in the employment structure and restriction of social expenditures. Differences in the labour market position of women and men have important social and economic consequences as well as individual consequences. Women as well as men may face structural challenges in the labour market, but gender roles and economic dynamics determine the impact of these challenges in different ways. In the econometric analysis conducted using the logit model, explanatory variables included age, gender, educational attainment, marital status, health status, type of property ownership, social security registration, household type, employment sector, and regional differences. The findings revealed that higher education levels, possession of social security, and homeownership significantly reduce the risk of in-work poverty, while having children in the household and residing in eastern regions increase this risk. Gender-based differences were also examined: factors such as marriage, employment in the public sector, and education were found to have a protective effect against in-work poverty for women, whereas household responsibilities and employment in low-wage jobs emerged as key factors increasing the risk of working poverty among men. In conclusion, this study offers a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between labor force participation and working poverty among women and men in Turkey, providing valuable insights for policy development. The findings underscore the importance of addressing in-work poverty through gender-sensitive strategies and suggest that adopting holistic, gender-equitable approaches will be critical to effectively reducing in-work poverty.