TSKB Publishes New Earthquake Region Report: ‘Raising the Future’

TSKB Economic Research published its new report focusing on social transformation in the earthquake-affected region and the effects of the participation of vulnerable groups in employment. The recent report titled ‘Raising the Future: A Human-Oriented Breakthrough for Social Transformation in the Earthquake Zone’ highlights that the share of women's employment in total employment in 11 provinces dropped to 25% by the end of 2024, emphasizing the need to accelerate investments promoting gender equality.

TSKB Economic Research published its new report titled ‘Raising the Future: A Human-Oriented Breakthrough for Social Transformation in the Earthquake Zone’. The report analyzes the recovery process in the earthquake region through field observations and data, focusing on the effects of labor force participation among vulnerable groups on social capital and transformation.

The report reveals that social transformation has become indispensable for sustainable development in today's deepening ecosystem crisis, rising geopolitical tensions and the uncertainty created by technological transformation. It is particularly noted that the labor force participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities will strengthen social capital and ensure a lasting, inclusive recovery in disaster regions. Accordingly, the report emphasizes that it is strategically important to design social policies in a way to transform cultural norms and to channel international development finance with a focus on vulnerable groups.

The report demonstrates that the share of women's employment in total employment in the 11 earthquake-affected provinces declined to 25% by the end of 2024, 1.4 percentage points lower than the pre-earthquake times and 9.3 percentage points lower than in Türkiye. The report emphasizes that investments promoting gender equality should be accelerated, highlighting the increasing need for a qualified workforce in the region as well as programs focused on technical and digital skills, which are vital for the labor force participation of vulnerable groups. It is suggested that new investments in areas such as defense and civil aviation could support the retention of young people and the rebuilding of social networks.

Highlights from the report are as follows:

• In 11 provinces in the earthquake region, women's employment declined in contrast to Türkiye as a whole, with women's share in formal employment falling to 25% by the end of 2024.
• In the region, 52% of women were working informally before the earthquake, which highlights the need to improve employment opportunities.
• Unpaid domestic and care work limits women's participation in the labor force, thus deepening gender inequality.
• Expanding preschool education and elderly care services plays a critical role in transforming cultural norms.
• In line with the changing needs of regional economy, technical and digital skills programs for women, youth and people with disabilities need to be expanded.
• Strengthening digital infrastructure can support innovative investments by increasing the innovation capacity of the earthquake-affected region.
• University and private sector collaborations can accelerate social and economic development by enhancing the commitment of young people to the region.
• It is crucial that international development finance is channeled in a way that supports the participation of vulnerable groups in economic life.

The full report is available here.