Nitelikli

Nitelikli is a Turkish adjective meaning “qualified” or “skilled.” It is derived from nitelik, meaning quality or characteristic, and is used to describe people, occupations, or things that possess the appropriate qualifications, competencies, or expertise for a task or role.

In labor and economy, the term appears in phrases such as nitelikli iş gücü (skilled workforce), nitelikli meslekler (skilled occupations), and nitelikli personel (qualified personnel). It can refer to formal certifications, degrees, or demonstrated expertise gained through vocational training, higher education, or long experience. Governments and organizations frequently discuss shortages of nitelikli personel to highlight gaps in specialized labor, particularly in fields like engineering, healthcare, information technology, and advanced manufacturing.

Nitelikli may imply a higher skill level than general education; however, the exact meaning depends on context, job requirements, and industry standards. The antonym is niteliksiz or niteliksizlik, meaning unqualified or unskilled. Related terms include vasıflı (qualified in a broader sense), becerili (skillful), and uzmanlık (expertise).

In policy and migration discourse, nitelikli göçmenler or nitelikli göç refer to skilled immigrants who meet criteria such as education, work experience, and language ability, used to address labor shortages. The term thus functions across economic, educational, and regulatory contexts to denote a higher level of qualifications and specialized capability.