The report entitled “Syrians in the Labor Market: Supply and Demand Side Analysis”, has been prepared by TEPAV within the scope of the Mahir Eller Project financed by the European Union includes data that will allow for the evaluation of the labor market from both the supply and demand sides, thus distinguishes itself from other studies conducted in this field.

Within the scope of the project’s research component, a survey was conducted among three different groups consisting of 15,617 Syrians, 4,169 Turkish citizens and 1,537 employers in 12 implementing provinces of the Project. Although the surveys included questions specific to each target group, in general, data on subjects such as educational background, work experience, competencies, employment status, informality, barriers to formal employment, social cohesion benefits, awareness of vocational certification, and opinions of businesses on Syrian employment were collected from survey participants.

In addition to the surveys, in-depth interviews were conducted with many individuals, institutions and organizations in all 12 provinces. In this context, by interviewing provincial and/or district municipalities, mukhtars, vocational training centers, İŞKUR Provincial Directorates, Provincial Directorates of Migration Management, RIZK Professional Development Offices, non-governmental organizations and opinion leaders, relevant information regarding their activities toward Syrians and their perspectives on the adaptation process was obtained.

This report has been prepared based on the findings of the supply and demand-side researches carried-out as part of Mahir Eller Project to reveal the problems in the adaptation process of Syrians to the Turkish economy and to share policy recommendations developed to contribute to the elimination of these problems. This study differs from others in that it includes analyses that will allow us to evaluate the labor market from both the supply and demand sides.

The findings in the report show that although it has been nearly 10 years since the first convoy arrived in Turkey, the necessary progress has not been made in the adaptation process of Syrians under Temporary Protection to social and economic life in Turkey. At the heart of this lies both the delay in the issuance of regulations regarding the rights and obligations of Syrians in Turkey and a lack of a plan regarding the systematic settlement of Syrians in Turkish cities following the open door policy and a disregard for settlement quotas in accordance with the absorption capacity of these cities.

Executive summary and infographics are available in English now. To access the Executive Summary, click here.

Mahir Eller Project

The main objective of the “Mahir Eller” Project, funded by the European Union, is to increase the employability of Turkish citizens and Syrians under Temporary Protection (SUTP) by certifying their existing vocational skills. Project activities at the local level were implemented in Adana, Bursa, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Izmir, Kayseri, Kilis, Konya, Mardin, Mersin and Şanlıurfa in cooperation with the Chambers of Commerce and/or Industry in these provinces until June 26, 2021. As of July 2021, Ankara and Kahramanmaraş has been added to the implementation provinces.

The project aims at identifying the existing vocational skills of 30 thousand people, enabling 20 thousand beneficiaries to take the vocational qualification certification exams implemented by the Authorized Certification Bodies (ACBs) within the National Qualifications framework prepared by the Vocational Qualifications Authority (VQA) and ensuring vocational qualification certification of 15 thousand beneficiaries. Finally, 3 thousand certified beneficiaries will gain formal employment or maintain their current formal employment status within the scope of employment incentives.