The positive movement in textile sector has also reflected in the employment figures. Based on the official data published by Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) and released on the website of Social Security Institution (SGK); the employment figures increased by 115 thousand from March 2020 to April 2021 by reaching 1 million 144 overall.
The ready-made clothing and apparel industry, ranked as the third amongst the sectors pulling employment figures the most with 65 thousand personnel. Istanbul Ready-to-Wear and Apparel Exporters' Association (İHKİB) President Mustafa Gültepe emphasized on the increase in exports and its positive impact on the sector and said that after the first wave of the epidemic, the demand has risen for Turkish ready-made clothing products in global markets as of June that has made a positive impact in export figures.
Rise in Employment Figures Will Continue
Reminding about records succeeded in the history of Republic in two months consecutively in the said period, Gültepe said, ‘’We experienced an increase trend both in exports and in turnover with a momentum at the time. Also, we worked at full capacity and never experienced a fall especially in exports. The demand is moving to Turkey and we believe that it will continue its growth rate. Employment will also maintain its growth rate in the same. Companies have sound investments in the areas as such in production, in design and in digitalization. With these figures, we can make an assumption of 40 thousand more personnel by the end of the year.’’
In the January-June period of 2021, Turkey's ready-to-wear and apparel exports increased by 35.3 percent compared to the same period of 2020 and increased by 8.3 percent compared to the same period of 2019, reaching 9.4 billion dollars.
500 Thousand People to Have Given Vaccinations in Textiles
The rise in employment in textile sector pointed out in the report. According to TÜİK figures, employment figures recorded as 437 thousand in March 2020 increased by 50 thousand in one year period. Ahmet Öksüz, President of Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters' Association (İTHİB), said the following on these statistics, ‘’Encouraging investments have been in our agenda in textile sector as well. A number of companies make a decision to invest in yarn when we live supply shortage in raw material. Employment figures will be on the rise as more of these investments will be a reality.’’
Öksüz stated that it would not be a matter of concern even to exceed 500 thousand employment set by the sector by the end of the year while underlining trust and confidence As of the first half, Turkey's textile and raw materials sector increased its exports by 55 percent compared to the same period of the previous year by reaching 5 billion dollars.
