The Problem of Finding Personnel in the Turkish Construction Industry
The construction industry, which is considered the locomotive of the Turkish economy, has entered a more intense working period after the earthquake disaster that occurred on February 6, 2023. There are serious difficulties in finding qualified personnel both in the earthquake zone and in ongoing construction projects in other regions.
Monthly Salaries Reached 150 Thousand Liras
Although workers in the sector are paid monthly salaries between 70 thousand liras and 150 thousand liras, sector representatives still have difficulty finding qualified construction workers. The decrease in master-apprentice relations in many professional groups such as moulder, tower crane operator, electrical, water, plaster and paint master has further deepened the problem of finding personnel. In addition, families direct their children only to professions such as lawyers, doctors and teachers, leading to a shortage of intermediate staff in many sectors.
“We Cannot Solve the Intermediate Personnel Problem”
Sharing his views on this issue, contractor Savaş Yükselyalçın stated that the personnel shortage also negatively affects construction costs. Yükselyalçın said, “We are currently having difficulty finding intermediate staff. There is a serious need. Labor transfers between construction sites have also been disrupted. Unfortunately, due to the situation brought by the education system, everyone prefers to work as a white collar. Since there is no master-apprentice relationship, we have difficulty in solving this intermediate staff problem. “There is an urgent need for technical staff such as painters, moulders, watermen and plasterers,” he said.
“We Must Bring Registered and Temporary Workers”
Emphasizing that salaries in the construction industry vary between 70 thousand and 150 thousand liras, Yükselyalçın said, “No matter how much salary we pay, we cannot meet our needs. We call the masters by making a reservation, but sometimes they do not keep their promises. Since it is a position that everyone demands, they turn to companies that pay higher salaries. The solution to the problem in the short term is for us to bring temporary and registered workers from countries such as the Philippines, India and Africa. “Workers need to be sent back when their projects are completed,” he said.
“Construction Workers Get High Salaries”
On the other hand, contractor Savaş Yükselyalçın stated that families should direct their children to vocational high schools in order to solve the personnel problems experienced in many sectors. Yükselyalçın said, “It is necessary to return to the old-school apprentice, journeyman and master relations. Currently, some construction workers earn higher salaries than police, engineers, doctors and prosecutors. “Families should be aware of this and should not forget the importance of these professions,” he said.
