Minister Işıkhan Attended the SEESOP Social Impact Assessment and Closing Conference

Minister of Labour and Social Security Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan attended the “Social Impact Assessment and Closing Conference of the Employment, Education and Social Policies Sectoral Operational Programme (SEESOP),” held with the participation of Vice President Mr. Cevdet Yılmaz.

Speaking at the conference, Minister Işıkhan stated that the participants had come together to assess the outcomes of a long-standing and strong cooperation, joint efforts, and initiatives that have had a tangible impact on people's lives. “As the coordinating institution, our Ministry has overseen the Employment, Education and Social Policies Sectoral Operational Programme, which has made significant contributions to our country’s transformation process in the fields of employment, education and social policy. However, we are aware that the true value of projects and programmes extends far beyond budgets, activities, or completed projects. What ultimately reveals this value is the tangible change they bring about in people’s lives. For instance, a woman joining the labour force for the first time, a young person acquiring vocational skills and looking to the future with greater confidence, a person with disabilities gaining access to the services they need, a child being able to continue his or her education, or a family improving its quality of life through social support mechanisms. For us, these are the real indicators of success. The ultimate objective of social policies is to touch people’s lives and strengthen social welfare,” he said.

Minister Işıkhan further noted that numerous success stories affecting people’s lives had been achieved through projects implemented under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) II period in the areas of employment, education and social policy. “Through the Social Impact Assessment study, the results of which we are presenting today, we will have the opportunity to evaluate the effects of the projects implemented during the IPA II period on people’s lives, assess their contributions to policy-making processes, and discuss these outcomes together,” he added.

“More Than 778.000 Citizens Reached Through 21 Operations, with Women Accounting for 52 Per Cent of Beneficiaries”

Minister Işıkhan stated that the findings obtained through the IPA Social Impact Assessment clearly demonstrate the programme’s societal impact and shared the following information:

“More than 778.000 citizens have been reached through 21 operations. Women account for 52 per cent of all beneficiaries. The capacities of more than 70.000 institutional participants have been strengthened. Through employment-focused initiatives, more than 41.000 citizens have been supported in gaining access to employment or retaining their existing jobs. These results are concrete indicators of greater opportunities, a stronger social structure, and a more inclusive development approach under the leadership of our esteemed President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Within the framework of 323 million Euro in financing provided under the programme, a total of 266 projects were supported through 24 operations. Through these projects, innovative models promoting women’s participation in the labour force were developed; the transition of young people from education to employment was facilitated; the link between the vocational education system and the labour market was strengthened; and the participation of disadvantaged individuals in social and economic life was enhanced. We regard all of these efforts as strategic investments in our country’s human capital.”

Emphasizing that one of the most significant achievements of this process has been the enhancement of institutional capacity, Minister Işıkhan continued:

“As Türkiye, we now possess a stronger institutional structure capable of measuring project outcomes, assessing impacts, developing evidence-based policies, and transferring accumulated experience to new programmes. Thanks to this institutional capacity, our Ministry has made substantial contributions to the effective utilization of European Union funds, the successful implementation of projects, and the transformation of project outcomes into sustainable policies through its expertise and strong project management capacity. Every euro spent through our partnership with the European Union generates a combined impact equivalent to six euros for the Turkish economy. Indeed, the indicators we have achieved in our labour markets today clearly reflect the tangible outcomes of this strong transformation.”

“The Unemployment Rate Has Remained in Single Digits for the Past 36 Months”

Recalling that the unemployment rate has remained at single-digit levels for the past 36 months, Minister Işıkhan stated: “As of April 2026, the unemployment rate stood at 8.2 per cent, while the number of employed persons exceeded 32 million. Maintaining unemployment at low levels despite the increase in labour force participation demonstrates the success of the active labour market policies and skilled workforce strategies we have implemented. We are particularly witnessing the positive outcomes of our policies aimed at strengthening the participation of women and young people in working life. While continuing to increase employment, we are also pursuing our fight against undeclared work with determination and further strengthening the inclusiveness and sustainability of our social security system.”

Emphasizing that, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the policies implemented have enabled Türkiye to continue building a more inclusive, resilient, and stronger labour market structure, Minister Işıkhan continued:

“In the period ahead, drawing strength from this accumulated experience, we will continue with determination to increase employment, support the participation of women and young people in the labour force, expand skills development initiatives, and strengthen social inclusion policies. I believe that the achievements we are sharing today will also inspire new projects and future success stories.”

At the conclusion of his speech, Minister Işıkhan expressed his gratitude to Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, Director General for Foreign Relations and European Union Affairs Ali Aybey, the relevant units of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, public institutions and organizations, stakeholder organizations, and all those who contributed to the programme.

Minister Işıkhan also conveyed his best wishes to Mr. Aivo Orav on his appointment as Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye.