Sakarya
Education
Education in Sakarya attracts attention with its number of students and diversity of institutions. There are 147 high schools across the province. While the total number of students was 205,536 in 2022, it increased by 7% to 222,186 in 2023. Sakarya has a wide vocational and technical education network, including 35 Vocational and Technical Anatolian High Schools, 4 Multi-Program Anatolian High Schools, 5 Vocational Training Centers and 6 Private Vocational and Technical Anatolian High Schools. Sakarya has two state universities: Sakarya University and Sakarya University of Applied Sciences. These two universities provide education in a wide academic range with a total of 22 faculties, 5 colleges and 25 vocational schools. The universities employ more than 1,800 faculty members and host a total of 68,470 students as of 2022. Universities in Sakarya offer a quality education to their students with a wide variety of programs and practical training opportunities. They also stand out with their strong academic staff and modern educational infrastructure. Universities also contribute to the economic and social development of the region through various research projects and industrial collaborations.
Population
The most populous age group in Sakarya is the 20-24 age group with approximately 85,500 people. There are approximately 322,300 people in the 15-34 age group, which shows that Sakarya has a high youth population density. In Sakarya, with a total population of approximately 1,060,000 by 2023, the young population constitutes a significant portion. There are approximately 220,000 people in the 0-14 age group in the city, while approximately 385,000 people live in the 35-64 age group. These data show that Sakarya has a dynamic and young population structure. The young population offers a significant potential in the labor market. This demographic structure in Sakarya creates a strong foundation for the future economic and social development of the region and creates a favorable environment for new business opportunities and initiatives.
Employment
Sakarya is a region where both micro- and macro-scale enterprises operate with a wide and diversified range of businesses. This diversity offers attractive opportunities for investors and increases economic dynamism. With their modern infrastructure and qualified workforce, enterprises in the city increase production capacity and contribute to the economic growth of the region. In Sakarya, approximately 64,400 people in 24,311 micro-scale workplaces, 56,200 people in 2,912 small-scale workplaces, 44,400 people in 454 medium-scale workplaces and 59,600 people in 90 large-scale workplaces work as compulsory insured. Of those employed, 72.62% are men and 27.38% are women. In terms of sectoral distribution, 37% of employees are employed in the industrial sector, 12.10% in the agricultural sector and 50.90% in the service sector. These data reveal that Sakarya has a strong labor force structure in the service sector and that the industrial sector is also an important source of employment. In addition, the fact that the employment structure in Sakarya is supported by a young and dynamic population allows the workforce in the region to be constantly renewed and developed. The high level of education and the wide range of vocational training opportunities contribute to the training of qualified labor force, which makes it easier for employers to find the competent personnel they need.
Industry
Sakarya contributes significantly to the national economy with 9 organized industrial zones (OIZ), 6 of which are active, and 9 small industrial sites (KSS). There are 1,428 firms with active capacity reports in the province and approximately 79,400 employees are employed in these firms. The first two sectors with the highest number of companies are fabricated metal products manufacturing (169 companies) and machinery and equipment manufacturing (153 companies). These data, which emphasize Sakarya's industrial strength and diversity, reveal the economic dynamism of the province. According to the results of the "Türkiye's Top 500 Largest Industrial Enterprises" research, which was announced by the Istanbul Chamber of Industry for the 56th time this year, 38 companies from Sakarya were included in the 2023 results according to the net sales amount from production. These companies show the high industrial and production capacity and competitiveness of Sakarya. Among the leading sectors in Sakarya, automotive, rail vehicles, textile, food, chemical and plastic industries stand out. These sectors make great contributions to both the local and national economy and offer wide employment opportunities. Sakarya's industrial infrastructure draws attention with its factories equipped with modern technologies and qualified workforce. Sakarya's strategic location and proximity to transportation networks and ports increase the logistical advantages of industrial activities and expand export opportunities. In addition, universities and vocational training institutions in the city train the qualified workforce needed by the industry and provide continuing education programs.
Technology
Sakarya has 25 R&D centers, 5 Design centers and 2 Technopolis. In 2022, 172 patent applications were made and 105 patents were registered. Based on this data, Sakarya ranks 1st among 81 provinces with the highest number of patent applications. There are 2 technocities, Sakarya Technopolis and Nehir Technopolis. These technopolises were established to strengthen university-industry cooperation, encourage research and development activities and contribute to the technology-based economic development of the region. Technopolises provide services to support technology-based initiatives and encourage R&D activities. Companies operating in Sakarya Technopolis are generally located in sectors such as information technologies, automotive, electronics, energy, defense industry and biotechnology. Nehir Technopolis, on the other hand, hosts companies operating in fields such as engineering, agriculture, food technologies, health and environmental technologies. Both technopolises focus on R&D and innovation activities and encourage cooperation between industrial companies and academic institutions in the region.
Foreign Trade
Sakarya is one of Türkiye's leading industrial and commercial centers. In 2022, the manufacturing industry made up a large part of the economy, accounting for 99.65% of exports worth 5.26 billion dollars. The city exports goods to 166 countries and imports goods from 112 countries. In 2023, a total of 6,102,853,000 dollars in exports and 3,950,370,000 dollars in imports were realized from Sakarya. Looking at exports by production locations, Sakarya exported 8.7 billion dollars in 2022 and 9.4 billion dollars in 2023. The most exported sectors in Sakarya include automotive industry, steel, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, chemicals and chemical products, heating-cooling and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, machinery and parts and ornamental plants. The top import sectors are automotive industry, electrical equipment, computers and electronic products, metal industry, machinery and parts, rubber and plastic products, chemicals and chemical products.
Organized Industrial Zones
Sakarya has 9 organized industrial zones (OIZ), 6 of which are active. These are; 1st OIZ (Hanlı), 2nd OIZ (Hendek), 3rd OIZ (Söğütlü), Karasu OIZ, Ferizli OIZ, Kaynarca Furniture Specialized OIZ, East Marmara Machinery Manufacturers Specialized OIZ, Sakarya Automotive and Metal Specialized OIZ, Söğütlü OIZ.
Eastern Marmara Machinery Manufacturers Specialized Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ)
The East Marmara Machinery Manufacturers Specialized Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ) is strategically located in the Marmara Region, offering modern infrastructure, large production areas and logistical advantages to the machinery manufacturing sector. The region, which increases its competitiveness in machinery manufacturing with its high-tech production facilities and R&D centers, provides ease of access to both local and international markets. It also sets an example for industrialists with its environmentally friendly practices and sustainable production approach.
Sakarya Karasu Port
Sakarya Karasu Port is a strategic trade and logistics hub on the Black Sea coast, increasing the volume of trade in northern Türkiye. It is an important crossroads for transit trade, offering direct sea connections to European, Russian and Central Asian markets. Its proximity to industrial centers in the Marmara Region reduces logistics costs and saves time. With its advanced infrastructure and large storage areas, the port offers a suitable environment for large-scale cargo operations and contributes significantly to regional employment.