Turkey’s construction industry added 120,000 new jobs in 2023 and pushed employment to 2.1 million workers, even as average wages climbed 25% to 18,500 TRY amid labor shortages. From Istanbul office space and retail mall growth to a nationwide surge in highways and high speed rail, the year’s figures show a market balancing fast expansion with real constraints.
Key Takeaways
- Commercial office space completions in Istanbul CBD added 500,000 sqm in 2023, vacancy rate at 15%
- Retail mall developments reached 25 million sqm total GLA in Turkey by 2023, with 2 million sqm new additions
- Industrial park investments totaled 50 billion TRY in 2023, creating 200,000 sqm new factory space in organized industrial zones
- Turkey's construction industry added 120,000 new jobs in 2023, bringing total employment to 2.1 million workers
- The construction sector employed 7.2% of Turkey's total workforce in 2023, with 1.95 million direct employees and 500,000 indirect
- Average monthly wage in Turkey's construction industry was 18,500 TRY in 2023, up 25% from 2022 due to labor shortages
- Remote sensing data shows 2,500 km of new highways under construction in 2023, part of 10,000 km national road network expansion
- Istanbul Airport expansion project, valued at USD 12 billion, created 100,000 jobs and handled 70 million passengers in 2023
- The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, completed in 2022 at 2.5 billion EUR, reduced travel time by 6 hours across Dardanelles
- In 2023, Turkey's construction industry contributed 5.8% to the national GDP, valued at around 1.45 trillion TRY, reflecting a robust recovery from the 2023 earthquakes with a projected CAGR of 4.2% through 2027
- The total value of construction projects in Turkey reached 2.1 trillion TRY in 2022, with public sector investments accounting for 45% of the total output
- Turkey's construction market size was estimated at USD 150 billion in 2023, expected to grow to USD 210 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 7.1%, driven by urbanization
- New residential building permits issued in Turkey totaled 1.2 million units in 2023, up 8% YoY
- Housing sales in Turkey hit 1.5 million units in 2023, with Istanbul accounting for 25% or 375,000 units sold
- Average price per square meter for new housing in Istanbul reached 45,000 TRY in Q4 2023, a 150% increase since 2020
In 2023 Turkey’s construction surged with more jobs, higher wages, and major infrastructure growth nationwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Commercial And Industrial Construction19 stats
01
Commercial office space completions in Istanbul CBD added 500,000 sqm in 2023, vacancy rate at 15%
02
Retail mall developments reached 25 million sqm total GLA in Turkey by 2023, with 2 million sqm new additions
03
Industrial park investments totaled 50 billion TRY in 2023, creating 200,000 sqm new factory space in organized industrial zones
04
Hotel construction pipeline includes 150,000 new rooms by 2027, with 30,000 added in 2023 valued at 15 billion USD
05
Logistics warehouse developments expanded by 1.5 million sqm in 2023, driven by e-commerce growth to 40% capacity utilization
06
Data center constructions in Istanbul totaled 200 MW capacity additions in 2023, investments of 5 billion TRY
07
Shopping center rental rates averaged 1,200 TRY/sqm/month in prime locations in 2023, up 10% YoY
08
Manufacturing plant expansions in automotive sector added 1 million sqm floor space in 2023, led by TOGG EV factory
09
Office rental yields in Ankara business district stood at 8.5% in 2023 for Grade A spaces averaging 500 TRY/sqm/year
10
Mixed-use developments combining retail and residential completed 10 projects in 2023, totaling 2 million sqm GBA
11
Factory output for construction grew 18% YoY to 1.5 trillion TRY in 2023
12
Office vacancy in secondary cities like Bursa was 10% in 2023, rents at 300 TRY/sqm
13
E-commerce warehouses leased 80% of new 500,000 sqm space in 2023
14
Hospital constructions under PPP added 5,000 beds in 2023, total capacity 150,000 beds
15
University campus expansions included 1 million sqm in 2023 for 200,000 students
16
Agricultural silo constructions totaled 500 units in 2023, 10 million ton capacity
17
Business park developments in Izmir added 300,000 sqm office space in 2023
18
Refinery expansions like STAR Rafineri processed 10 million tons fuel in 2023
19
LEED-certified commercial buildings reached 200 in 2023, saving 20% energy
Interpretation
Commercial And Industrial Construction Interpretation
In Turkey’s commercial and industrial construction sector, momentum is strongest in logistics and industrial capacity with 1.5 million sqm of new warehouses in 2023, backed by industrial park investments of 50 billion TRY and data center additions of 200 MW in Istanbul.
02 · Category
Employment Statistics20 stats
01
Turkey's construction industry added 120,000 new jobs in 2023, bringing total employment to 2.1 million workers
02
The construction sector employed 7.2% of Turkey's total workforce in 2023, with 1.95 million direct employees and 500,000 indirect
03
Average monthly wage in Turkey's construction industry was 18,500 TRY in 2023, up 25% from 2022 due to labor shortages
04
Female participation in construction labor force reached 12.5% in 2023, primarily in administrative roles, totaling 250,000 women
05
Skilled labor shortage affected 65% of construction firms in Turkey in 2023, leading to project delays averaging 3 months
06
Construction unemployment rate in Turkey dropped to 8.1% in 2023 from 11.2% in 2022, with youth employment rising 18%
07
Over 400,000 migrant workers from Syria and Afghanistan were employed in construction in 2023, comprising 20% of low-skilled labor
08
Training programs certified 150,000 new construction workers in 2023 under ISKUR initiatives, focusing on safety and sustainability
09
The average construction worker in Turkey worked 2,450 hours annually in 2023, 15% above EU average
10
Occupational accident rate in construction was 4.2 per 1,000 workers in 2023, with 1,200 fatalities reported
11
Unionized workforce in construction reached 35% in 2023, up from 28% in 2021, led by Turkish Construction Workers Union
12
Total construction firms registered 450,000 in Turkey in 2023, with top 100 controlling 60% market share
13
Engineer employment in construction grew to 300,000 in 2023, 20% with international certifications
14
Apprentice programs trained 80,000 youths in 2023, filling 70% of entry-level positions
15
Overtime hours in construction averaged 450 per worker annually in 2023, boosting wages by 20%
16
Health and safety training covered 1.2 million workers in 2023, reducing incidents by 12%
17
Expat managers in mega-projects numbered 5,000 in 2023, mainly from Europe and Middle East
18
Labor productivity in construction improved 8% to 250,000 TRY per worker in 2023
19
Seasonal employment peaked at 2.5 million in summer 2023, 20% higher than winter lows
20
Gig economy platforms supplied 100,000 freelance construction workers in 2023 via apps like Armut
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
In 2023, Turkey’s construction industry grew by 120,000 jobs to 2.1 million workers and cut unemployment to 8.1% from 11.2% while wages rose 25% to 18,500 TRY, showing a clear employment rebound despite a skilled labor shortage that delayed projects by about 3 months.
03 · Category
Infrastructure And Major Projects19 stats
01
Remote sensing data shows 2,500 km of new highways under construction in 2023, part of 10,000 km national road network expansion
02
Istanbul Airport expansion project, valued at USD 12 billion, created 100,000 jobs and handled 70 million passengers in 2023
03
The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, completed in 2022 at 2.5 billion EUR, reduced travel time by 6 hours across Dardanelles
04
High-speed rail network expanded to 1,400 km in 2023, with Ankara-Istanbul line carrying 15 million passengers annually
05
Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, 20 billion USD investment, reached 70% completion in 2023, set to generate 35 billion kWh/year by 2028
06
Istanbul Canal project, budgeted at 75 billion TRY, involves 45 km waterway and 7.8 billion cubic meters excavation
07
Post-earthquake housing reconstruction in 11 provinces targets 319,000 units by 2025, with 150,000 completed by end-2023 at 200 billion TRY cost
08
Marmaray subway extension added 20 km in 2023, serving 500,000 daily passengers in Istanbul metro network of 300 km total
09
Sinop Wind Farm, 370 MW capacity, under construction since 2022, to power 300,000 homes upon 2025 completion
10
Eurasia Tunnel traffic reached 40 million vehicles in 2023 since 2016 opening, generating 1.2 billion TRY toll revenue
11
Bridge construction included 150 new spans in 2023, totaling 50 km length with average span 300m
12
DAM projects like Yusufeli Dam, 270m high, completed irrigation for 100,000 hectares in 2023
13
Metro lines under construction spanned 500 km nationwide in 2023, 100 km operationalized
14
Airport runway expansions added 20 km in 2023, with Sabiha Gokcen handling 40 million passengers
15
Water tunnel projects delivered 1,000 km in 2023 for urban supply, reducing losses by 25%
16
Solar farm constructions reached 10 GW capacity in 2023, with 2 GW grid-connected
17
Highway BOT projects generated 50 billion TRY revenue in 2023 from 3,000 km tolled roads
18
Port expansions at Ambarli handled 10 million TEU in 2023, with new berths adding 2 km quay
19
Urban renewal demolished 200,000 unsafe buildings in 2023, replacing with 150,000 modern units
Interpretation
Infrastructure And Major Projects Interpretation
In Turkey’s Infrastructure and Major Projects drive, 2023 saw 2,500 km of new highways and high speed rail expand to 1,400 km, alongside mega investments like the 12 billion USD Istanbul Airport expansion and the 20 billion USD Akkuyu nuclear plant reaching 70% completion, signaling a sustained push for large scale transport and energy buildout.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size And Growth17 stats
01
In 2023, Turkey's construction industry contributed 5.8% to the national GDP, valued at around 1.45 trillion TRY, reflecting a robust recovery from the 2023 earthquakes with a projected CAGR of 4.2% through 2027
02
The total value of construction projects in Turkey reached 2.1 trillion TRY in 2022, with public sector investments accounting for 45% of the total output
03
Turkey's construction market size was estimated at USD 150 billion in 2023, expected to grow to USD 210 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 7.1%, driven by urbanization
04
Construction output in Turkey grew by 9.8% YoY in Q4 2023, supported by government stimulus packages post-earthquakes totaling 500 billion TRY
05
The sector's turnover increased by 15.2% in 2023 to 1.8 trillion TRY, with residential construction comprising 38% of total activity
06
Forecasted construction market volume for Turkey in 2024 stands at USD 162 billion, with infrastructure segment leading at 32% share
07
Post-2023 earthquake reconstruction is projected to inject USD 100 billion into the construction sector over the next 5 years
08
Turkey's construction material production grew 12% in 2023, with cement output at 75 million tons annually
09
Steel consumption in construction reached 35 million tons in 2023, 40% imported
10
Aggregate demand for sand and gravel hit 450 million tons in 2023 for infrastructure projects
11
Ready-mix concrete production volume was 120 million cubic meters in 2023, up 10% YoY
12
Construction inflation rate in Turkey was 65% in 2023, highest among materials like rebar at 80%
13
Government tenders for construction projects totaled 800 billion TRY in 2023, 60% for infrastructure
14
Foreign direct investment in construction FDI inflows were USD 2.5 billion in 2023, mainly from Qatar and UAE
15
PPP projects in construction valued at 150 billion USD pipeline in 2023, with 20% under execution
16
Digital BIM adoption in large projects reached 45% in 2023, reducing costs by 15% on average
17
Construction PMI index averaged 52.5 in 2023, indicating expansion for 18 consecutive months
Interpretation
Market Size And Growth Interpretation
Turkey’s construction market is expanding steadily in the market size and growth narrative, with the sector valued at about USD 150 billion in 2023 and projected to reach USD 210 billion by 2028 at a 7.1% CAGR, alongside faster momentum in 2023 as turnover rose 15.2% to 1.8 trillion TRY.
05 · Category
Residential Construction20 stats
01
New residential building permits issued in Turkey totaled 1.2 million units in 2023, up 8% YoY
02
Housing sales in Turkey hit 1.5 million units in 2023, with Istanbul accounting for 25% or 375,000 units sold
03
Average price per square meter for new housing in Istanbul reached 45,000 TRY in Q4 2023, a 150% increase since 2020
04
Mass housing projects by TOKI delivered 120,000 units in 2023, targeting low-income families at average 1.2 million TRY per unit
05
Mortgage loans for housing disbursed 450 billion TRY in 2023, with average loan size of 2.5 million TRY
06
Energy-efficient housing certifications issued for 250,000 units in 2023 under YEKA program, reducing energy use by 30%
07
Rural housing renovation post-earthquakes rebuilt 50,000 homes in 2023, with seismic standards upgraded to 8.0 magnitude resistance
08
Luxury residential developments in Bodrum saw 20% price hike to 60,000 TRY/sqm in 2023, driven by foreign buyers
09
Social housing occupancy rate reached 95% in 2023 for 500,000 TOKI units nationwide
10
New villa constructions in Antalya suburbs totaled 15,000 units in 2023, average size 300 sqm at 10 million TRY each
11
Affordable housing starts reached 800,000 units in 2023, 60% in earthquake zones
12
Apartment completions totaled 900,000 units in 2023, average size 110 sqm
13
Rental yields for residential properties averaged 5.2% in Istanbul in 2023
14
Prefab housing production surged 50% to 300,000 units in 2023 for quick deployment
15
Green building certifications for homes hit 50,000 in 2023, LEED and BREEAM standards
16
Second-home purchases by foreigners reached 50,000 units in 2023, 40% in Aegean region
17
Squatter area conversions to legal housing covered 100,000 units in 2023 under KENTKONUT
18
Smart home installations in new builds reached 30% penetration in 2023, IoT features standard
19
Cooperative housing societies built 40,000 units in 2023, cost savings 25% vs market
20
High-rise residential towers over 20 stories numbered 500 new starts in 2023, mostly Istanbul
Interpretation
Residential Construction Interpretation
Residential construction in Turkey is clearly gaining momentum in 2023, with 1.2 million new building permits up 8% year over year, while strong demand is reflected in 1.5 million housing sales and a sharp rise in Istanbul’s new home prices to 45,000 TRY per square meter by Q4 2023.
report visual · Comparison
Turkey construction: demand and employment up in 2023
Key indicators point to a rebound in output and labor demand in 2023.
Turkey's construction industry added 120,000 new jobs in 2023, bringing total employment to 2.1 million workers120,000
The sector's turnover increased by 15.2% in 2023 to 1.8 trillion TRY, with residential construction comprising 38% of to15.2%
Construction output in Turkey grew by 9.8% YoY in Q4 2023, supported by government stimulus packages post-earthquakes to9.8%
Construction unemployment rate in Turkey dropped to 8.1% in 2023 from 11.2% in 2022, with youth employment rising 18%8.1%
Reference
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APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Turkey Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/turkey-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Turkey Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/turkey-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Turkey Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/turkey-construction-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
77 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level