Türkiye’s textile and apparel industry has seen a sharp decline in employment, dropping below the 1 million mark for the first time in four years. According to data from the Social Security Institution (SGK), the sector’s workforce shrank to 959,395 in 2024, with 65,581 job losses—52,768 in apparel and 12,813 in textiles.
The number of companies in the sector also declined, falling from 61,352 to 59,101, reflecting the mounting challenges faced by businesses.
Mounting Challenges for the Industry
Türkiye’s textile and apparel sector has been grappling with economic headwinds, with over 163,000 job losses in the apparel segment alone over the past two years. Small businesses, which form the backbone of the industry, have been particularly hard-hit.
Rising production costs, currency depreciation, and declining export demand have further strained the sector. Additionally, higher minimum wages and soaring financing costs have forced many companies to downsize. The influx of low-cost imports from East Asia has also intensified competition, undermining local production.
Industry representatives are calling for stronger government incentives and employment protection policies to support domestic manufacturers and sustain the sector’s global competitiveness.
