Fresh organic vegetables displayed at a market counter in a grocery store. (Adobe Stock Photo)
March 20, 2026 01:52 PM GMT+03:00
As of January 2026, Türkiye’s most popular occupations among tradesmen are grocery stores, franchises, and kiosks, employing 194,052 people and cementing the sector’s role at the heart of the country’s small-business economy.
According to Anadolu Agency (AA), a total of 2,256,978 tradesmen and craftsmen are active across 2,542,099 businesses nationwide, playing a significant role in the country’s economy and accounting for roughly 2.65% of Türkiye’s population.
Women on rise
Men continue to dominate the sector with 1,822,405 tradesmen (80.75%), while 434,573 women (19.25%) are active across various trades, marking a steady increase in female entrepreneurship.
Grocery stores and freight lead the way
The most common trades in January were:
Istanbul tops, Bayburt at the bottom
Istanbul remains the hub of the tradesmen sector with 283,449 professionals, followed by Izmir, Ankara, Antalya, and Bursa. At the other end of the spectrum, Bayburt hosts the fewest tradesmen at 2,178, followed by Ardahan, Tunceli, Igdir, and Gumushane.
During January, 27,929 new businesses were registered, while 12,736 businesses were closed. Istanbul again led in new registrations, recording 3,311 newly established enterprises.
Through state banks and cooperatives, 16,879 tradesmen received loans totaling ₺12.58 billion, helping sustain operations and support growth.
Tradesmen exported $32.25 million in goods, with the UAE as the top destination, followed by Mongolia, Romania, Saudi Arabia, and Germany. Imports reached $41.14 million.
A total of 346 capacity reports were approved in January. Food and agriculture led by sector, while Bursa topped by province with 24 reports, demonstrating concentrated industrial activity.
March 20, 2026 01:52 PM GMT+03:00