İŞKUR Free Career Counseling Services for 2026 Candidates

A Revolution in Educational Guidance: Universal Access to DABİS

On the eve of the announcement of the High School Entrance Exam (LGS) and Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS) results in Turkey, Vedat Işıkhan, Minister of Labor and Social Security, announced a major step toward labor market transparency for youth. According to a statement released on July 20, 2026, the Counselor Information System (DABİS), which was previously only available to professional counselors, is now accessible to all students and parents through the İŞKUR mobile application [1]. This move aims to empower families to make informed decisions during one of the most sensitive stages of their children's academic lives.

Decision-Making Based on Real Labor Market Data

The DABİS system is not just a program introduction tool, but a massive database built on real, anonymized data from 2010 to 2024 [2]. Using this application, candidates can view key indicators for each field, including:
- Employment Rate: What percentage of graduates from each field have entered the labor market.
- Time to Find a Job: The average time a graduate needs to find their first job after completing their studies.
- Income Distribution: Average salary received in the first years of work.
- Entrepreneurship Rate: The potential of different fields for starting personal businesses [3].

This data, collected in cooperation with MEB and SGK, allows students to plan their career future based on economic realities instead of relying on guesswork.

In-Person Services Across Turkey: A Counselor for Every Student

In addition to digital platforms, İŞKUR has also strengthened its in-person counseling services. The Minister of Labor emphasized that experienced counselors are ready to provide free advice to candidates in all 81 provinces of Turkey and at provincial service centers [4]. This project, targeting approximately 3.5 million young people, includes 1 million LGS candidates and 2.5 million YKS candidates. By examining individual talents and matching them with labor market needs, counselors help students avoid incorrect choices that lead to future unemployment.

Employment Outlook and the Importance of Informed Choice

By providing these free services, the Turkish government seeks to reduce the unemployment rate among graduates and optimize the workforce. Given the rapid changes in the world of work, access to 15 different indicators for university programs and 14 indicators for vocational schools is a powerful tool in the hands of the new generation [3]. Işıkhan invited all parents and students to download the İŞKUR mobile application to take advantage of this golden opportunity to shape a brighter future and not leave their career choices to chance [5].