What is Hidden Labor? An Untapped Potential for Companies
Apr 7, 2025
In today's business world, sustainable success is not limited to hiring talented employees. It is also crucial to create a workforce model based on inclusivity, diversity, and equality. According to the "Hidden Workers: Untapped Talent" report prepared by Harvard Business School and Accenture, the often-overlooked hidden workforce creates a unique talent pool for companies.
Who Makes Up the Hidden Workforce?
The hidden workforce consists of individuals who have remained away from the business world for various reasons but are willing and talented to work. These individuals can add value to workplaces with their diverse experiences and skills.
Caregivers
Individuals with responsibilities such as childcare or caring for the sick can be integrated into the workforce by offering flexible working conditions.
Retirees
Individuals looking to work after retirement can support internal knowledge transfer by sharing their experiences.
Immigrants and Refugees
These individuals providing cultural diversity can enhance innovation with a global perspective.
Individuals with Disabilities and Neurodiverse Individuals
Individuals with different ways of thinking can perform well in analytical and attention-requiring jobs.
Individuals Who Have Been Unemployed for a Long Time
They can be reintegrated into working life with appropriate support and development opportunities.
Advantages of the Hidden Workforce for Companies
1. Diversity and Inclusivity
Working with individuals from different backgrounds strengthens the company's inclusive culture and enhances innovation. According to Boston Consulting, teams with high diversity generate 19% more revenue.
2. Expansion of the Talent Pool
SHRM's 2023 report states that 77% of employers struggle to find qualified candidates. The hidden workforce offers a resource to meet this need.
3. Innovation and Creativity
According to McKinsey's report, innovation accelerates by 32% in teams that include neurodiverse individuals.
4. Improvement in Customer Relations
Diverse perspectives enable better understanding of customer needs and increase satisfaction.
5. Social Benefit and Economic Contribution
It is projected that by 2030, 2.1 million positions will remain open. The hidden workforce can play a significant role in closing this gap.
The Role of Technology: How Can We Tap into the Hidden Workforce?
Technology emerges as a powerful tool in reintegrating the hidden workforce into the business world. The effective use of technology across a wide range, from recruitment processes to workplace accessibility technologies, facilitates the integration of the hidden workforce into working life.
AI-Based Assessment Platforms 💻
Platforms such as HireVue provide objective analyses in evaluating candidates, ensuring fair recruitment processes.
Accessibility Technologies
Technologies such as screen readers, alternative keyboards, and voice command systems support the participation of individuals with disabilities in the workforce.
Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasizes the value of these technologies and their users by stating, "Accessibility is the key to building a more equitable world. For years, we have focused on developing technologies designed with the vision, expertise, and creativity of individuals with disabilities that everyone can use."
Online Education Platforms
Platforms like Coursera, Udacity, and edX offer flexible educational opportunities that support the development of the hidden workforce.
Unbiased Interview Technologies
Blind resume screening and AI-supported video analyses ensure candidates are evaluated fairly.
Recruitment and Candidate Tracking Systems
ATS and RMS systems provide digitized recruitment processes that encompass evaluation processes involving the hidden workforce.
Strategies for Including the Hidden Workforce
Prepare flexible job postings: Make specific arrangements for certain groups.
Implement unbiased evaluations: Use blind CVs and AI-supported interview tools.
Post job ads on different platforms: Prefer media that appeals to individuals with disabilities and retirees.
Integrate accessibility solutions into your workplace.
The Status of the Hidden Workforce in Turkey
According to 2023 data:
The participation rate of individuals with disabilities in the workforce is 28.9%
OECD average: 53.3%
Only 40% of individuals released from prison can be employed within a year.
Incentives and Opportunities in Turkey
Support for disabled employment includes:
Tax discounts
SGK incentives
İŞKUR support programs
However, many challenges continue in practice. There is a need to strengthen implementation and audits.
🇹🇷 Hidden Workforce: Individuals with Disabilities and Former Prisoners
Among the potential groups often overlooked in the business world are individuals with disabilities and former prisoners. As of 2023, the participation rate of individuals with disabilities in the workforce has been recorded at 28.9%; this rate indicates that there are many structural and social issues preventing the full participation of individuals with disabilities in society. This rate is significantly below the OECD average of 53.3. The employment rate of individuals with disabilities is 45.8% for men and 18.7% for women, revealing gender inequality.
The participation of former prisoners in the workforce is also a significant issue in Turkey. According to 2021 data, only 40% of individuals released from prison can find employment within a year. Employers generally hesitate to hire former prisoners, making the reintegration processes into society challenging.
🇹🇷 Opportunities and Incentives
Various incentives and policies are in place to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in the workforce in Turkey. For instance, laws promoting the employment of disabled individuals, along with tax discounts and financial support provided to employers, present a significant opportunity for increasing employment of individuals with disabilities. As of 2023, the support provided for the employment of disabled individuals aims to facilitate hiring these individuals by employers.
However, workforce policies in Turkey remain limited, particularly for individuals with disabilities and former prisoners. Although there are legal frameworks in place for issues such as the employment of individuals with disabilities and former convicts, deficiencies in implementation are noticeable. Policies created to increase labor force participation of individuals with disabilities often remain only on paper; many employers hesitate to hire these individuals, resulting in individuals with disabilities or former prisoners merely being on payrolls but not genuinely employed. For instance, according to Turkey's Ministry of Family and Social Services' April 2023 Statistical Bulletin, the figures regarding the employment of individuals with disabilities are insufficient; this situation leads to injustices in the labor market.
According to Mesut Çebi's report, more concrete steps are needed for workforce policies in Turkey to become more effective and to increase the employment rates of individuals with disabilities and former prisoners. Changing employers' attitudes toward these individuals, raising social awareness, and developing special support programs targeting the needs of these individuals are critical.
Information provided by Turkey's Employment Agency (İŞKUR) also includes projects and support aimed at increasing the employment of individuals with disabilities. The policies of İŞKUR regarding the employment of individuals with disabilities aim to facilitate the integration of these individuals into the workforce through informational and training efforts directed at employers.
Leverage Hidden Workforce with Keiken
As Keiken Consulting, we are here to help you realize the potential of the hidden workforce. We work with our expert team to transform your recruitment processes into a more inclusive structure and create a company culture that supports diversity. Get support from KeİKen to make a difference in your business world with the hidden workforce and let's build the path to sustainable success together.
We invite candidates experiencing this situation to contact us! If you find yourself in this position, please send your application to info@keiken.com.tr. We would be happy to have you among us.
References
Harvard Business School & Accenture (2021). Hidden Workers: Untapped Talent
SHRM (2023). The State of AI in HR
BCG (2020). Diverse Leadership and Innovation
Ministry of Family and Social Services (2023). Statistical Bulletin
McKinsey (2023). Workforce Innovation Report
OECD (2023). Disability, Work and Inclusion