A SWOT ANALYSIS OF WOMEN S EMPLOYMENT IN TURKEY AND GLOBAL COMPARATIVE INSIGHTS

Women’s employment is a critical driver of economic growth, social equity, and sustainable development. Despite significant progress over the years, global and regional labor markets continue to exhibit stark gender disparities, with women facing systemic barriers such as gender pay gaps, limited access to education, cultural norms, and caregiving burdens. This study examines the factors influencing women’s labor force participation in Turkey, a country with one of the lowest female employment rates among OECD countries, while providing comparative insights from global trends. Employing the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis framework, the research identifies the economic benefits of women’s employment, the structural barriers they face, and the emerging opportunities for gender-inclusive labor markets. The findings reveal that women’s employment contributes significantly to household welfare, workplace innovation, and sustainable economic development. However, challenges such as cultural stereotypes, unequal pay, and inadequate childcare infrastructure hinder women’s full participation. Opportunities arising from digital transformation, green economy jobs, and policy-driven solutions like microfinance programs provide pathways for enhancing women’s workforce engagement. Threats such as automation and insufficient enforcement of gender equality laws further exacerbate inequalities. This study concludes that targeted interventions are essential to address systemic barriers and leverage emerging opportunities. Recommendations include investing in caregiving infrastructure, promoting STEM education for women, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, and supporting women entrepreneurs. By fostering gender-inclusive labor policies, Turkey and other countries can unlock the transformative potential of women’s employment, achieving not only economic resilience but also greater social equity and sustainable development