Gender gap and the labour market structure: A neoclassical approach for the case of Turkiye

In recent years, Turkiye has been among the lowest in the Global Gender Gap index announced. This study is intended to analyze the main determinants of the labour market and the role of women in this market by shedding light on Turkiye’s economic and government policies in the last 20 years. For this, the basic human capital model has been applied using the Household Labour Force Survey of 2021 published by TURKSTAT (Turkish Statistical Institute). The wage increases with the increased level of education and experience that supports the basic model. At the same time, the extended models that we have applied have shown that women, despite having a high level of education, take a lower wage than men. At the same time, single and married women are less likely to participate in the labour force. Moreover, the wage taken decreases with the employment in the private sector and working part-time. Considering the differences between the sectors, the workers in the industrial sector have been determined to be paid a higher wage than those in the sectors of service and agriculture. An analysis of women’s participation in labour force has also shown that their marital status as married and the increase in their educational level has a negative effect. Finally, we have discussed the disadvantages of being a woman in the labour market where the neoliberal policies implemented in Turkiye have deepened the gap.