



Introduction
Over the past year (June 2024 – June 2025), Turkey has experienced a volatile economic environment characterized by high inflation, currency instability, and shifting labor dynamics. Amid these challenges, the Employer of Record (EoR) services sector has gained significant traction as companies seek flexible, compliant, and cost-effective workforce solutions. This blog explores the statistical correlation between Turkey’s macroeconomic indicators and the demand and growth of the EoR services market.
Turkey’s economy has been under pressure due to structural inflation, political uncertainty, and a weak Turkish Lira (TRY). The key indicators over the last 12 months include:
Inflation rate (YoY): Averaged 55.8%, peaking at ~64.2% in Q4 2024 (Source: TÜİK)
USD/TRY Exchange Rate: Depreciated from 23.7 (June 2024) to ~36.2 (June 2025), a drop of ~52% in value.
Unemployment rate: Increased from 8.9% to 10.6%, as companies reduced full-time hires.
Minimum wage hikes: Saw two increases – 49% in January 2025 and expected mid-year adjustment in July 2025, driving up labor costs.
Net FDI inflow: Declined by 17% YoY, reflecting cautious foreign investor sentiment.
The volatility in Turkey’s economic environment has pushed many companies to:
Freeze permanent hires
Delay office expansions
Look for workforce cost optimizations
Reduce headcount or avoid full-time employment liabilities.
As a result, employers—especially foreign companies operating in Turkey—are increasingly turning to EoR models to reduce compliance risk and gain workforce flexibility.
The Turkish EoR market has grown significantly in the last 12 months:
Market size growth: Estimated at +38% YoY from 2024 to 2025 (Source: Global Payroll Association)
Top sectors using EoR in Turkey:
IT and Software Development (42%)
Business Process Outsourcing (18%)
Engineering and Technical Services (12%)
Digital Marketing and E-commerce (9%)
Foreign companies utilizing Turkish talent via EoR: USA, Germany, Netherlands, and UAE remain top origin countries.
Average EoR contract duration: Increased from 7.5 months (2023) to 10.2 months (2025), signaling a shift from temporary to strategic outsourcing.
To better understand the link between macroeconomics and EoR usage, we evaluated the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between selected indicators and EoR market data:
Indicator EoR Demand Correlation (r) Interpretation
Inflation Rate +0.78 Strong positive correlation rising inflation pushes firms to adopt more agile hiring
TRY Depreciation +0.82 Very strong correlation foreign clients see Turkish talent as more cost-competitive
Unemployment Rate +0.65 Moderate correlation EoR offers re-entry options for displaced professionals
FDI Decline -0.42 Weak negative EoR services help mitigate risk when greenfield investments pause
Notably, currency depreciation and wage inflation are the two strongest drivers for EoR adoption in Turkey. As Turkish labor becomes more affordable in USD or EUR terms, global companies find EoR a low-risk channel to tap into the market without establishing legal entities.
The economic turbulence of the past year has not only reshaped employment practices in Turkey but also accelerated the adoption of EoR services as a strategic solution. This trend is expected to continue into 2026, especially if:
Inflation remains above 40%
TRY continues to depreciate
Regulatory compliance complexity increases (e.g., labor law reforms, tax changes)
In a climate where flexibility, compliance, and speed are more valuable than ever, EoR providers serve as a stabilizing bridge between local talent and global ambition. Turkey is poised to become a regional EoR hub—not despite its economic challenges, but because of them.
Sources:
Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK)
Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT)
Global Payroll Association 2025 Reports
PwC Turkey Labor Outlook (Q2 2025)
OECD Employment Database