Erdoğan warns of 'transformation wave in labor similar to Industrial Revolution'
21:33, 27/04/2026, MondayU: Update: 21:50, 27/04/2026, Monday
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (3rd L) attends the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Skills Summit 2026 at Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkiye on April 27, 2026. The event was also attended by Turkish Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Isikhan, Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Askin Bak, Turkish Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, Head of Communications of the Turkish Presidency Burhanettin Duran, Head of the Turkish Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and AK Party Antalya MP Mevlut Cavusoglu, Secretary-General of the OECD Mathias Cormann, and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anar Aliyev.President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the world is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by technology and AI, describing it as "a transformation wave in labor similar to the Industrial Revolution." Speaking at the OECD Skills Summit in Istanbul, he said human capital will be key to future national success.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday that the world is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by technology and artificial intelligence, describing it as "a transformation wave in labor similar to the Industrial Revolution," and stressing that it must be properly understood and managed. Speaking at the OECD 6th Skills Summit in Istanbul, Erdoğan said jobs and production are rapidly changing, with new roles emerging and others disappearing.
Robotics and dark factories
Highlighting the rapid rise of robotics and AI, Erdoğan said this shift brings both opportunities and concerns. "The global robotics market, currently around $100 billion, is projected to reach $25 trillion by 2050. In some countries, fully automated production facilities known as 'dark factories' are rapidly becoming widespread," he said. "Even looking at the reality of so-called 'dark factories' alone is enough to show that we are facing a transformation wave in labor similar to the Industrial Revolution."
Inequalities
Erdoğan pointed to structural inequalities, noting that women, migrants, and disadvantaged students are often unable to fully realize their potential, calling this not only an economic loss but also a social one. "No country that leaves a significant part of its human capital idle can embark on a truly strong development drive," he added.
Türkiye's progress
Erdoğan said Türkiye has reduced informal employment from over 52% in the early 2000s to 24% in 2025, marking the country's strongest labor market performance in 23 years. He noted progress in women's participation, saying female labor force participation rose from 27.9% to 34.7%, while women's employment increased from 25.3% to 31.7%. He highlighted legal reforms extending maternity leave for working mothers to 24 weeks.
Youth employment goal
"Our goal is to bring 3 million young people into employment within the next three years," Erdoğan said. The "Century of Türkiye" vision is built on human capital and requires strong cooperation between public and private sectors, universities, unions, and civil society.
