The Effects of Syrian Refugees and Regional Trade Openness on Türkiye’s Labor Market
Abstract
This study analyzes the labor market effects of the rapid influx of Syrian refugees into Türkiye beginning in 2011. Using micro-level Household Labor Force Survey data from the Turkish Statistical Institute for the period 2009–2015, the employment effects of the increase in the Syrian refugee population are estimated with a Difference-in-Differences method. Propensity Score Matching is implemented to strengthen the validity of the Difference-in-Differences estimates and ensure comparability between the treatment and control groups. This approach balances observable structural differences and, in turn, improves the internal consistency of the estimates. In addition, the empirical framework is further extended by incorporating regional trade openness into the model, a proxy for integration into global production networks. The results provide evidence consistent with a statistically significant negative association between increases in the Syrian refugee population and the probability of employment among native workers, particularly among female and low-skilled native workers. Moreover, higher levels of regional trade openness have a positive effect on employment, especially for low-skilled native workers. These findings highlight the importance of policy measures aimed at supporting native workers in regions facing high refugee inflows.
Keywords
References
- Abadie, A. (2005). Semiparametric difference-in-differences estimators. Review of Economic Studies, 72(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/0034-6527.00321
- Akgündüz, Y.E., Berg, M. and Hassink, W. (2015). The impact of refugee crises on host labor markets: The case of the Syrian refugee crisis in Turkey (IZA Discussion Paper No. 8841). Retrieved from https://docs.iza.org/dp8841.pdf
- Aksu, E., Erzan, R. and Kırdar, M.G. (2018). The impact of mass migration of Syrians on the Turkish labor market (IZA Discussion Paper No. 12050). Retrieved from https://www.iza.org/publications/dp/12050/the-impact-of-mass-migration-of-syrians-on-the-turkish-labor-market
- Aracı, D.T., Demirci, M. and Kırdar, M.G. (2022). Development level of hosting areas and the impact of refugees on natives' labor market outcomes in Turkey. European Economic Review, 145, 104132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2022.104132
- Aydemir, A.B. and Kırdar, M.G. (2017). Quasi-experimental impact estimates of immigrant labor supply shocks: The role of treatment and comparison group matching and relative skill composition. European Economic Review, 98, 282–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2017.07.005
- Bağır, K.Y. (2018). Impact of the Syrian refugee influx on Turkish native workers: An ethnic enclave approach. Central Bank Review, 18(4), 129–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbrev.2018.11.001
- Baker, A., Callaway, B., Cunningham, S., Goodman-Bacon, A. and Sant’Anna, P.H. (2026). Difference-in-differences designs: A practitioner’s guide. Journal of Economic Literature, 64(2), 498-557. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20251650
- Borjas, G.J. (2003). The labor demand curve is downward sloping: Reexamining the impact of immigration on the labor market (NBER Working Paper No. 9755). https://doi.org/10.3386/w9755
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Labor Economics
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
June 30, 2026
Submission Date
December 26, 2025
Acceptance Date
May 31, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 11 Number: 2