Software Developer Hiring Trends in Istanbul, Turkey

This report was last updated on Aug 16, 2025

Bence Gedai

Founder

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

The software engineers job market in Turkey, particularly in Istanbul, has shown significant fluctuations with a peak of 254 new roles posted in a single week, highlighting both opportunities and challenges for hiring managers.
Istanbul dominates the software job market, accounting for an impressive 79% of total job openings in Turkey, underscoring its status as the key city for software developer opportunities.
Top companies hiring software engineers in Turkey include Canonical with 131 openings, TELPA A.Ş. with 37, and Aselsan, also with 35, reflecting a diverse range of industries seeking tech talent.
The median time to hire for software engineers in Turkey stands at 33 days, indicating a competitive landscape where swift recruitment strategies are essential to secure top talent.
The talent pool in Turkey offers a substantial opportunity for recruitment, albeit with a moderate recruitment challenge in comparison to other European markets, emphasizing the need for strategic hiring practices.

Number of roles opened and closed for Software Engineers in Istanbul in the last 3 months

Over the past 12 weeks, the software engineering job market in Turkey, particularly in Istanbul, has exhibited significant fluctuations. The data shows a peak of 254 new software developer roles posted in week 21, followed by a steady decline to 168 in week 32. In contrast, job closures, peaking at 194 in week 30, reveal a concerning trend where the number of closed positions often exceeds the number of new openings, especially notable in weeks 22 and 24. This suggests a challenging landscape for hiring managers and CTOs in Istanbul's tech sector, as the discrepancy between postings and closures may hinder opportunities for senior software developers and impact future demand for software engineers in the region.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Turkey:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	131
TELPA A.Ş.	Turkey	Telecommunications	1994	37
Aselsan	Turkey	Defense & Space	1975	35
Insider.	Singapore	Information Technology & Services	2012	25
Hilton	United States	Hospitality	1919	22
Maya Okulları	null	null	null	21
Turkcell	Turkey	Telecommunications	1994	17
Trendyol Group	Turkey	Information Technology & Services	2010	16
Siemens	Germany	Machinery	1847	16
Marriott International	Italy	Hospitality	1927	16

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Turkey

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Turkey

The software engineers job market trends in Turkey, particularly in Istanbul, present a unique scenario when compared to other European countries. With a significant number of job openings and a sizable talent pool, Turkey's hiring environment indicates a moderate challenge for CTOs and hiring managers. For instance, Germany has a high number of job openings but also boasts a larger talent pool, resulting in a more competitive hiring landscape. Meanwhile, countries like France and Poland showcase similar dynamics, where the ratio of available talent to job openings suggests varying levels of recruitment difficulty. Overall, while the software job market in Turkey exists with considerable opportunities, the balance of openings versus available talent indicates that while hiring is feasible, it may require strategic recruitment strategies for success.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Istanbul

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Istanbul

In the competitive software job market in Turkey, particularly in Istanbul, a significant portion of job openings is attributed to various seniority levels. Currently, 40% of positions are for Mid-Senior level Engineers, followed by 31% for Associate roles and 20% aimed at Entry level professionals. This distribution highlights the demand for experienced talent while also creating opportunities for emerging software developers in the region.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Turkey

In the Turkish software job market, full-time positions dominate the employment type distribution, accounting for 97% of the opportunities available. Contract roles comprise 3% of the job market, while internships represent less than 2%. This highlights the strong preference for permanent positions among employers, which is critical for hiring managers aiming to attract skilled talent in Istanbul's competitive tech landscape.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Turkey

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire distribution for Software jobs in Turkey reveals critical insights for hiring managers. A significant majority, accounting for 846 counts, fall within a 30-day hiring window, reflecting the competitive nature of the Software job market in Turkey, particularly in Istanbul. Additionally, the data indicates a notable decrease in counts as the time to hire extends beyond 30 days, with only 135 candidates available at 45 days and 98 at 50 days. This suggests an urgent need for efficient recruitment strategies to attract top talent swiftly, aligning with the growing future demand for Software Engineers in Turkey, especially in Istanbul's vibrant tech sector.

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Most popular cities in Turkey to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Turkey to hire Software Engineers

In Turkey, the software engineers job market is predominantly concentrated in Istanbul, which accounts for 79% of the total job openings. The capital, Ankara, follows with 17%, while İzmir contributes a modest 3% to the overall distribution of positions. This data underscores the significance of Istanbul as a focal point for software development opportunities, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in Istanbul for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

In examining the software job market trends in Turkey, particularly in Istanbul, it is evident that certain technologies dominate the landscape. Java emerges as the leading language with a frequency of 10,261, highlighting its continued relevance in the development community. Following closely is JavaScript, utilized in 8,026 instances, underscoring its importance in web development. Python, with a frequency of 6,571, reflects a strong demand for data science and machine learning applications. PHP remains a staple in backend development, accounting for 5,625 usages. Additionally, TypeScript, reflecting the evolving nature of web applications, is noted with a frequency of 5,079. These insights are visualized in the accompanying chart, providing a clear representation of technology adoption for software development roles.

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