On January 6, the POWER program was launched with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which aims to enable young people to gain work experience through internship opportunities, learn about business life, easily participate in employment and remain permanently in the labor market.
The POWER program, which includes five main programs including “Internship Support”, “My Future is in Career”, “NEET Workforce Adaptation”, “First Step to Work” and “İŞKUR Youth”, aims to provide young people with the opportunity to gain work experience from a young age, align their skills with the needs of the labor market and move towards skilled employment.
The POWER program, which has a total volume of more than 445.1 billion lira, aims to bring around 3 million young people into the labor market.
The program plans to provide personal support to 750,000 vocational students, reduce the unemployment rate of 7.8 percent targeted in the 2026-2028 medium-term program, and reduce the youth unemployment rate in Turkey, which is 11.5 percent on average in the OECD, to a lower level.
Frequently asked questions and answers:
1- What steps are taken and what opportunities are offered with regard to an internship?
As part of the internship funding, internship opportunities for school and college students are bundled under one roof. Thanks to the integration of the Internship Portal operated by İŞKUR and the National Internship Program, students' access to internships will be easier and internship rates will be monitored more effectively by employers in the public and private sectors.
The aim is to offer internship opportunities to 800,000 students over the next three years and to give young people a better start to their professional lives by supporting wages and insurance premiums during the internship period. The fact that 80 billion liras have been paid for internship funding since 2022 shows the extent of public support in this area. The aim is to further increase internship capacity by providing an additional 26.2 billion lira resources for the next period.
2- What is being done to help students meet employers?
With the “My future lies in work” program for high school students at vocational high schools and vocational schools, young people meet employers while they are still studying. As part of the program, students are supported through individual career counseling services and directed to areas of high labor demand, particularly in manufacturing.
In addition, special career fairs and joint job interviews are organized for high school students from vocational high schools and vocational schools to enable young people to have direct contact with employers. The aim of the program is to provide 750,000 young people with individual support in their careers within 3 years, thereby shortening the time it takes to look for a job and reducing employment outside the specialist area after graduation.
3- What is offered to young people who are neither in training nor in work?
The NEET Labor Force Adaptation Program (NIUP), which is aimed at young people who are neither in training nor in employment, aims to reintegrate 450,000 young people into the production process within three years. With a part-time and flexible working model, the program aims to help young people acquire basic skills and adapt to working life step by step.
As part of the program, young people work in collaboration with public institutions to take on practical tasks in areas such as social services, maintenance and renovation, and green transformation, and are supported with daily allowances and short-term insurance support. It is expected that 107.3 billion lira will be allocated to this program. NIUP stands out as an important adaptation model that strengthens the re-participation of young people at risk of social exclusion in both economic and social life.
4- What kind of support is offered to young people when looking for their first job?
For young people aged 18 to 25 who are starting their careers for the first time, wage and insurance support is provided as part of the “First Step to Work” program. Under the program, wages and insurance premiums that correspond to the net minimum wage at the time of first employment are covered by unemployment insurance for up to 6 months.
The aim of this support is to reduce financial barriers to youth employment and to make it easier for the private sector to access qualified young workers. In line with the program, which aims to benefit 750,000 young people in three years, strong cooperation with the private sector will be established with a total budget of 215.8 billion lira.
5- What is being done to enable university students to gain work experience?
The İŞKUR Youth Program for University Students aims to reach one million students by the end of 2028. Students can gain experience in around 30 different areas, from sustainable campus activities to digital transformation, from social and cultural sciences to entrepreneurship, with a flexible working model of 1 to 3 days per week during non-curricular times.
As part of the program, students acquire business discipline and professional experience while earning an income. Funds of 95.8 billion lira have been allocated to the program, which is characterized by its inclusive structure, especially at a time when unemployment among young women is high.
Bir yanıt yazın