ILO and IOM Present Labour Market Research Following Türkiye Earthquakes

The research aimed to provide a sustainable, inclusive, rights-based, and gender-sensitive foundation for recovery efforts in the earthquake-affected regions, complementing official public data with qualitative insights.

In a joint effort to assess labour market conditions and guide recovery efforts after the devastating February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) presented significant research findings on July 9, 2024, in Ankara. Supported by the UK Government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), this initiative included a Household Survey, the Tracer Study, and the Enterprise Survey, with technical support from IOM.

The research aimed to provide a sustainable, inclusive, rights-based, and gender-sensitive foundation for recovery efforts in the earthquake-affected regions, complementing official public data with qualitative insights.

The February 2023 earthquakes impacted eleven provinces, home to 15.8 million people, including migrants and refugees. Recognizing the profound effects on labour markets, the ILO and IOM conducted the Household Survey from November 2023 to April 2024, assessing the living and working conditions of survivors in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya.

Key findings include:

A high displacement rate of 55.2% in Hatay's city center.

A significant increase in the inability of residents in temporary shelters, particularly in Adıyaman, to meet basic needs, escalating tenfold.

A pronounced digital divide in temporary settlements with very low internet access rates, down to 2.6% in Adıyaman.

High economic inactivity among women, over 70% across all provinces, peaking at 84.7% in Malatya.

Higher job losses for women, up to half of the women respondents in Hatay and Adıyaman.

Varied reliance on pension income, indicating potential poverty and the need for additional social assistance and labour market activation.

The Tracer Study provided in-depth qualitative data on the labour market experiences and social relations of earthquake survivors who migrated to Ankara and Adana. It highlighted the lack of trauma-informed work environments, increasing workplace anxieties and risks. The study found that young women embraced urban practices to break away from traditional gender roles, indicating different migration impacts based on age and gender.

The Enterprise Survey evaluated business recovery processes in Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya. Findings include:

16% of businesses had to relocate, and 60% temporarily shut down operations.

Businesses experienced customer (71.2%), supplier (57%), product (55.9%), and market share losses (54.6%).

A 32% revenue decline in USD from 2022 to 2023.

Various worker supports provided post-earthquake, with meal assistance (35.2%), accommodation support (25.6%), part-time work arrangements (23.5%), and reduced working hours (20%) being the most common.

Key Statements:

Yasser Hassan, ILO Türkiye Director: Emphasized the need for promoting decent work and social justice as key drivers of building resilience.

Gerard Karl Waite, IOM Türkiye Chief of Mission: Highlighted the importance of guiding policymaking with these findings to improve access to employment and essential needs.

Liam McLaughlin, Migration Counsellor at British Embassy: Stressed the crucial role of data and insights in understanding the impact on employment and guiding recovery efforts.

Shane Niall O'Higgins, ILO Senior Research Specialist: Noted the focus on vulnerable groups and the importance of rebuilding efforts centered on social justice.

Speakers called for translating research findings into actionable steps and encouraged innovative solutions, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among local and international stakeholders in support of government-led recovery efforts.

The reports will be finalized based on stakeholder contributions and made available in the coming days.