Governor's 'we cannot find workers' outburst

In Kütahya, with the completion of the infrastructure for the Zafer Organized Industrial Zone, some factories have started production, but the labor demand in the region cannot be met. Factories are struggling to reach the number of personnel required to operate at full capacity.

Due to the lack of sufficient interest from Turkish citizens, particularly in blue-collar fields, some companies have found the solution in bringing in personnel from abroad when they cannot find workers.

Making a statement on the matter, Kütahya Governor Musa Işın said, "The Zafer OIZ is complete. Some factories have started production. The goal is to reach full capacity in 2026 and 2027. The projected number of employees in this region is between 15 and 20 thousand." Işın also stated that businesses that have started production are unable to reach targeted production rates due to a shortage of workers.

"OUR CITIZENS DO NOT WANT TO WORK IN BLUE-COLLAR JOBS"

The inability of factories to find the necessary personnel has led firms to turn to bringing in workers from abroad.

Governor Işın stated that a firm operating in the Zafer OIZ has brought 210 workers from India, and that other companies are also sourcing personnel from India and Venezuela. Işın evaluated the situation with the following words:

"Our citizens do not want to work in blue-collar jobs; they mostly demand civil service or desk jobs. For this reason, we cannot find employees for the jobs available and are turning to foreign labor."

Emphasizing that there is a shortage of 4 thousand people in the central district alone in industrial zones, Işın stated that if this problem persists, foreign nationals could make up a significant portion of the workforce in the region. Furthermore, it was reported that the organized industrial zones established in the center are also operating below capacity due to a lack of workers.

Today, the lack of interest from young people and job seekers in fields such as production and industry is raising concerns about the sustainability of industrial investments. Officials point out that the importance of planning the workforce according to sectoral needs is increasing.

News Source: 12punto