Recruitment in Turkey is a wise investment, largely due to its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
As global supply chains realign, Turkey’s influence has deepened, establishing the country as a key part of reshored manufacturing and newly forming trade routes.
This gives Turkish businesses a strong advantage in helping companies restructure their supply chains, thanks to easy access to European and regional markets.
Eventually, this opened opportunities for recruitment agencies in Turkey to connect talent with businesses that want to tap into Turkey’s rising global influence.
This article provides an overview of Turkey’s job market, explores the key factors that have driven the growth of recruitment agencies in the country, and offers an exclusive list of the top five recruitment agencies in Turkey.
Overview of Turkey’s Job Market – 2024
Undoubtedly, Turkey’s economy is facing some serious problems. Since growth slowed more than expected in the second quarter of 2024.
TurkStat reported that the economy grew by only 2.5%, below the 3.2% forecast.
This slowdown reflects the effects of tighter monetary policies over the past year. Which aimed at curbing inflation and stabilizing finances.
Nonetheless, some sectors have shown surprising growth. Construction and real estate expanded by 6.5%, while agriculture grew by 3.7%.
These gains present valuable opportunities for recruitment agencies, as they navigate a labor market shaped by economic pressure and changing business needs.
Looking ahead, Turkey’s future growth will depend heavily on digital transformation, expected to drive 60% of productivity gains by 2030.
Inflation remains a major concern in Turkey. Although it dropped from a peak of 75% to under 62%, the central bank raised interest rates sharply—from 8.5% to 50%.
While these hikes are necessary to control inflation, they have also slowed economic activity, creating uncertainty for both businesses and workers.
Turkey’s Medium-Term Program for 2025–2027 aims to balance growth and inflation targets.
In addition, the economic backdrop remains volatile, with inflation hitting 75% in May 2024 before easing to below 62% by July. Which created sharp interest rate hikes.
While necessary to stabilize the economy, these measures have tightened liquidity and increased pressure on businesses.
In the face of economic uncertainty—from tight monetary policies to shifting growth forecasts.
Turkey’s job market presents both challenges & opportunities.
Why Work with a Recruitment Agency in Turkey?
As businesses scramble to keep up with the fast & unpredictable changes. Recruitment agencies have become an asset to the Turkish economy.
Their roles are evident in closing the talent gap, especially in sectors like construction, real estate, agriculture, and IT. Which continue to grow despite the ongoing economic slowdown.
At the same time, the ongoing digital transformation adds another layer of complexity to the equation.
Digital technologies are expected to drive productivity through 2030. So, if they haven’t already Turkish recruitment agencies are bound to navigate a labor market in transition.
While some agencies might view this pressure as an obstacle. Resilient & reliable employment agencies will see it as an opportunity.
As automation and AI transform industries globally, recruitment agencies in Istanbul and Ankara are successfully filling these new tech positions.
Thanks to an extensive network, local expertise & a good understanding of the Turkish EVP. These agencies can help local & international businesses find the perfect fit for these emerging roles and retain them.
Another main thing to consider is that the recent fluctuations in the Turkish lira have brought the euro-to-lira exchange rate to approximately 37.06 TRY as of October 22, 2024.
This “favorable” exchange rate offers a cost advantage for international businesses looking to hire talent or set up operations in Turkey.
Lower labor and operational expenses make Turkey attractive for foreign investment. Especially for companies aiming to optimize costs amid global economic challenges.
The economic backdrop remains volatile, with inflation hitting 75% in May 2024 before easing to below 62% by July and creating sharp interest rate hikes.
While necessary to stabilize the economy, these measures have tightened liquidity and increased pressure on businesses.
Recruitment agencies have become essential partners as they offer a strategic edge by helping businesses anticipate future challenges.
As employment agencies in Turkey grow, they face mounting pressure to stay flexible amid shifting monetary policies and economic volatility.
The country’s mentioned challenges demand constant strategy adjustments and also immense flexibility.
Tight liquidity, high interest rates, and unstable exchange rates push businesses to rethink hiring practices & seek employment and recruitment experts.
In this symbiotic relationship, recruitment agencies are bound to thrive.
How We Selected the Top 5 Recruitment Agencies
When selecting the top recruitment agencies in Turkey for 2024, we prioritized those who have proven their ability to navigate economic shifts and keep pace with rapid technological change.
These agencies stand out not only by meeting immediate staffing demands but also through proactive strategies that anticipate industry trends and prepare the workforce for what’s next.
Adaptability to Economic Conditions
In light of Turkey’s economic challenges—marked by high inflation and currency depreciation—the selected agencies have developed strategies to turn these circumstances into opportunities.
As a result of helping international companies benefit from favorable exchange rates. These agencies position Turkey as a cost-effective destination for expansion and hiring.
Technological Transformation & Adoption
As digital transformation transforms productivity and job creation, these agencies lead the way by integrating AI and digital tools into their recruitment processes.
This ensures they can support industries reliant on tech-savvy talent or fast-growing companies.
Reskilling & Upskilling
Many reports project that automation and AI will reshape many jobs by 2030. So we selected agencies that emphasize reskilling and upskilling initiatives.
These programs are key to preparing the workforce for future demands, fostering a smoother transition into digitally transformed roles, and promoting long-term employment stability.
Accurate & Strategic Forecasting
What sets these agencies apart is their ability to leverage data-driven insights for strategic forecasting.
This foresight enables businesses to anticipate market trends and align their staffing plans with evolving conditions—critical for staying agile in an uncertain economic landscape.
The Top 5 Recruitment Agencies in Turkey in 2024
1- Gini Talent:
Gini Talent is a global recruitment agency specializing in mass hiring, EOR solutions, and more. Additionally, they work with industries like healthcare, finance, technology, and media, providing scalable workforce solutions.
With a modern recruitment approach and personalized automation tools, they streamline the hiring process. Moreover, Gini Talent helps companies build both local and global remote teams. Their transparent pricing makes them a reliable choice, and they can serve as strategic partners for both short-term and long-term needs.
2- Manpower Turkiye:
Manpower Turkey provides comprehensive recruitment solutions, focusing on local and international staffing, executive search, and payroll outsourcing. In addition, they offer specialized services across industries like IT, healthcare, and hospitality.
Thanks to their strong local presence and global partnerships, they deliver efficient workforce solutions in this dynamic market.
3- Empatik:
Empatik İnsan Kaynakları is a human resources consultancy firm based in Istanbul, founded in 2005. In addition to staffing, it specializes in outsourcing, HR consulting, and mass recruitment, supporting both local and global companies.
With decades of experience, Empatik offers tailored services that efficiently address evolving workforce needs across various sectors. As a result, they remain a reliable partner for businesses navigating today’s changing job market.
4- Devs-data:
DevsData is a boutique tech recruitment agency known for connecting top-tier engineers with companies in fast-paced markets across different locations including Turkey.
With expertise in both recruitment and software development, they offer premium staffing solutions for demanding projects.
5- IT Talent Turkey:
Last but not least, IT Talent Turkey specializes in recruiting top-tier technology professionals across Turkey and internationally. Known for its efficient placements within two weeks, the agency serves industries like software development, AI, and DevOps.
While their focus is limited to IT, this agency prioritizes matching candidates with relevant roles & leverages strong database and AI tools.