Guide to Hiring in Türkiye

Key takeaways

• Türkiye’s top hiring hubs are Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.
• Top industries in Türkiye include manufacturing, automotive, and information and communication technology (ICT).
• Companies hiring in Türkiye have various options for setup, including partnering with an employer of record (EOR), hiring contractors, establishing a subsidiary, or direct employer registration.

Türkiye is a G20 member and has a strategic location bridging Europe and Asia. Its economy is led by the automotive, machinery, and home appliances industries. Part of the country’s national strategy is focused on increasing the domestic share of high-tech exports like defense and aerospace.

If you want to enjoy all the benefits of Türkiye, you'll need to do some research before expanding into the country. Companies planning to employ workers in this area need to understand contracts, taxes, wages, benefits, and other employment laws. Get a head start by reading our guide on hiring in Türkiye.

What to know before hiring in Türkiye

If you’re expanding your business into Türkiye for the first time, make sure you pay close attention to the country's legal requirements. These unique laws and cultural practices influence hiring in Türkiye and have an effect on compensation, benefits, and many other aspects of the employer-employee relationship.

G-P Gia™, our AI-powered global HR agent, can answer your toughest compliance questions about Türkiye and more than 180 other nations. Reduce your reliance on outside counsel and cut the time and cost of compliance by up to 95% with Gia.

Here are five things to know about hiring in Türkiye.

1. Key industries

Understanding Türkiye's economic landscape can help you choose the right industries to focus on. The country’s economy relies heavily on its manufacturing sector, driving over 90% of all exports. The automotive industry is the largest single export sector, and it sends most of its goods to the EU. The country's economic plan is focused on increasing domestic high-tech exports and reducing reliance on international imports in key areas.

Defense and aerospace are especially fast-growing sectors. Türkiye is notable for successfully developing and exporting advanced technology like UAVs, the KAAN fighter jet, missiles, and air defense systems. This sector aims to create a cutting-edge technology export ecosystem.

2. Payroll taxes

Türkiye has a progressive income tax system. Residents are taxed on their worldwide income while non-residents are taxed only on Turkish-sourced income. As of 2026, income tax brackets on employment income are:

• Up to TRY 190,000: 15%
• TRY 190,001 to 400,000: 20%
• TRY 400,001 to 1,500,000: 27%
• TRY 1,500,001 to 5,300,000: 35%
• Above TRY 5,300,000: 40%

There are also some additional taxes for social security and other similar programs. The employer’s share of payroll taxes is 23.75%. Most of this goes towards social security, and a small amount goes towards unemployment and disability insurance. The employee’s share is 15%. 14% of this goes towards social security, and 1% goes towards unemployment insurance.

3. Working hours and time off

Understanding Turkish labor regulations regarding working hours, overtime, rest periods, and statutory leave is essential for maintaining compliance. The following overview outlines key employment standards in Türkiye.

Employment category	Statutory requirement & details
Standard workweek	Maximum 45 hours per week (up to 11 hours per day) with a mandatory 24-hour rest period. Exceeding 45 hours requires written employee consent.
Overtime compensation	Permitted up to 270 hours annually. Compensated at 1.25x the regular rate for workweeks under 45 hours, and 1.5x for hours exceeding 45 hours.
Mandatory rest breaks	Governed by Labour Law Article 68: 15 minutes for shifts up to 4 hours; 30 minutes for shifts over 4 up to 7.5 hours; 1 hour for shifts exceeding 7.5 hours.
Paid Time Off (PTO)	• 1 to 5 years of service: Minimum 14 days • 5 to 15 years of service: Minimum 20 days • 15+ years of service: Minimum 26 days
Public holidays	• New Year’s Day • National Sovereignty and Children’s Day • Labor Day • Youth and Sports Day • Democracy and Freedom Day • Victory Day • Republic Day • Ramadan and Eid Holidays

Hiring models for global companies in Türkiye

Under Turkish employment laws, there are four hiring options available to global businesses:

• Direct employer registration: establishing a legally registered entity in Türkiye to employ workers directly. You will independently manage payroll, tax withholding, statutory insurance, and other employer obligations.
• Employer of record (EOR): G-P EOR acts as the legal employer, handling administrative and payroll processes on behalf of your company, including contracts, withholding, contributions, and statutory benefits.
• Subsidiary or branch: a Turkish subsidiary will function as a separate legal entity, while a branch will function as an extension of your parent company and must be registered locally.
• Independent contractor: hiring independent contractors in Türkiye generally doesn’t require establishing a local entity or branch. However, there are significant penalties for misclassified workers, so legal tests must be followed when hiring them.

Top hiring hubs in Türkiye

Some cities in Türkiye are known for particular industries. Knowing what each region has to offer allows you to focus your hiring efforts in the right place and fill roles faster.

The top talent hubs in Türkiye are:

• Istanbul is the country’s largest city and top economic hub. The city is seen as a bridge between Asia and Europe. In 2024, Istanbul accounted for nearly 30% of Türkiye's entire GDP.
• Ankara is the capital city. Ankara is the center for Türkiye's defense and aerospace industries. It attracts specialized talent for R&D, engineering, and software development for national projects such as the KAAN fighter jet and various drone programs.
• Izmir is a strategic port gateway on the Aegean Sea. The region's main talent concentration is in maritime logistics, import/export operations, and supply chain management.
• Bursa is known as the Detroit of Türkiye. The city’s economy is dominated by high-volume, export-oriented manufacturing.
• Kocaeli is an industrial and manufacturing region close to Istanbul. Key sectors include automotive parts, petrochemicals, metal, and machinery. It hosts facilities for companies like Ford Otosan.

Key industries in Türkiye

Understanding Türkiye’s top industries allows you to benchmark salaries and benefits. You can use this insight to make smart choices about where to invest and grow your talent pool.

The top industries in Türkiye include:

• Manufacturing is the main driver of Türkiye's exports. It consistently accounts for over 90% of total exports. This sector has high demand for specialized engineering, production management, and skilled technical talent.
• Automotive is Türkiye's largest single exporting sector, valued at over USD 32.44B. International automakers like Ford, Toyota, and Fiat have large production facilities that focus on the EU market. Türkiye offers skilled talent in mechatronics, logistics, and quality control.
• Information and communication technologies (ICT) is one of Türkiye's fastest-growing sectors, and digital transformation is a national priority. The sector employs over 246,000 professionals, and 70% of them are younger than 35.
• Logistics and transportation are valued at over USD 100B. The government aims to build 8,200 kilometers of high-speed rail line by 2028.
• Agriculture: Türkiye is a global leader in the production and export of hazelnuts, cherries, figs, and apricots.

The cost of hiring an employee in Türkiye

Whether you’re hiring one employee or an entire team in Türkiye, expenses are inevitable. Budget for the following:

• Setting up an entity (unless you partner with an employer of record)
• Advertising job positions
• Paying referral bonuses to employees with connections in Türkiye
• Paying an in-house hiring committee
• Traveling to and from Türkiye, including hotel stays, meals, and transportation
• Partnering with a translator to draft documents or facilitate conversations (if applicable)
• Using a background check service for screening candidates
• Drafting compliant employment contracts, legal review, and consultation with HR and legal experts
• Costs for providing computers, phones, and software licenses
• Onboarding materials and initial training
• Costs for maintaining required tax and payroll records and documentation

According to G-P Verified Sources from Gia, the employer burden rate in Türkiye for all costs triggered on top of salaries is about 22.5%, excluding accident insurance that can vary.

What does a company need to hire employees in Türkiye?

Make sure you cover these essentials before expanding your team in Türkiye:

• Establish a legal entity in Türkiye such as a subsidiary or branch office.
• Register with the Turkish tax authorities to get a tax identification number.
• Register with the social security institution (SGK) for social security contributions.
• Open a local bank account to process payroll and payments.
• Learn about all local employment laws including preparing compliant employment contracts, adhering to minimum wage requirements, and providing benefits.

Setting up a business, a branch, or a subsidiary in Türkiye can take weeks or months. Use G-P EOR to hire full-time employees in Türkiye without setting up your own entity. Build your team at a lower cost and with peace of mind that you’re doing so compliantly.

The steps to hiring employees in Türkiye

The hiring process in Türkiye is fairly straightforward. It mostly follows hiring processes in other countries, and it doesn't have any strict laws about how you proceed with hiring. In most cases, the hiring process follows five basic steps: advertising the job, evaluating applications, interviewing candidates, sending job offers, and onboarding new employees.

1. Advertising job vacancies

Prepare a clear job description that outlines responsibilities, qualifications, and compensation. Post the vacancy on local job boards.

Kariyer, Isin Olsun, Secretcv, and LinkedIn are some of the most popular job sites in Türkiye.

2. Evaluating job applications

Screen CVs and application forms to shortlist suitable candidates. If you have a lot of candidates, it might be helpful to use applicant tracking software or use AI to summarize applications for you.

3. Interviewing candidates

Interview shortlisted candidates. If needed, administer tests or assessments relevant to the role, so you can find the right people for your company. Gia can help you create questions that follow anti-discrimination laws in Türkiye, so you can find the best fit for the role while complying with local regulations.

4. Making job offers

Choose the most suitable candidate based on their qualifications, experience, and interview performance. Draft a written employment contract in compliance with Turkish employment law. The country allows both verbal and written contracts, and it lets you use a variety of languages for the contract. For best results, go with a written contract that clearly outlines job title, salary, benefits, working hours, and other important terms in a language both parties understand.

5. Onboarding new employees

Now you can onboard your new employees. Register your new hire with the SGK and tax authorities in Türkiye. Provide orientation, training, and necessary resources for the new employee to start their role.

If you’re working with a Turkiye employer of record, like G-P EOR, you won’t have to worry about the administrative burden of onboarding. We’ll streamline the process, so you can focus on training your new hire and integrating them into your company culture.

Hiring contractors in Türkiye

Working with independent contractors in Türkiye can be a cost-effective way to test the market and build a presence without the commitment of full-time employees.

Contractors based in Türkiye understand local consumer behavior, rules, and business practices. They’ll be ready to start working quickly with their own equipment and established work processes.

Hiring contractors allows you to easily adjust your talent pool based on your business needs, without the complexities and costs of employment.

Before you enter an agreement with an independent contractor in Türkiye, consider the following:

1. Employees vs. independent contractor

It’s important to understand the difference between employees and independent contractors. Employees in Türkiye work under the employer’s direction and supervision, are integrated into the company, and get regular wages and benefits such as paid leave, severance, and social security.

Independent contractors provide services, set their schedules, use their own equipment, and are paid per project or service. They are responsible for their own tax and social security obligations and don’t get employee benefits. Turkish law focuses on the actual working relationship rather than contract titles. If there is a question about how your workers should be classified, they'll look at the everyday details of your business relationship instead of the official titles mentioned in the contract.

2. Penalties for misclassification

Classifying someone as a contractor when they’re not can lead to severe penalties. If misclassification occurs, you’ll have to:

• Pay back taxes and social security contributions.
• Face fines and interest on unpaid amounts.
• Deal with potential legal action from misclassified workers.

3. How to pay contractors

Engage and pay contractors in Türkiye with G-P Contractor™.

G-P Contractor centralizes contractor engagement into one easy-to-use platform. Simplify contract generation, ensure worker classification, and pay contractors in minutes instead of hours, regardless of location.

Hire employees and contractors in Türkiye with G-P

Our Global Employment Platform and its AI-powered products, EOR, Contractor, and Gia, support companies as they build and manage global teams.

G-P is the recognized leader in global employment with more than a decade of experience; the largest team of HR, legal, and compliance experts; and a global proprietary knowledge base.

Make your expansion to Türkiye easier with G-P. Contact us or book a demo today.

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