Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.1% in January 2026 from a marginally revised from a record low of 7.8% in the previous month. The number of unemployed declined by 73,000 to a 2.82 million. Meanwhile, total employment dropped by 516,000 to 31.95 million, bringing the employment rate eased to 47.9% from 48.7%, marking the lowest level since March 2023. By gender, the employment rate eased slipped for both men (65.3% vs. 66.5%) and women (30.9% vs. 31.4%). Labor force participation rate was down to 52.1% from 52.9% in December, pointing to the lowest figure since February 2022. Meanwhile, youth unemployment was little changed (14.3% vs 14.2%). source: Turkish Statistical Institute

Unemployment Rate in Turkey increased to 8.10 percent in January from 7.80 percent in December of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Turkey averaged 10.26 percent from 2005 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 14.10 percent in August of 2019 and a record low of 7.80 percent in December of 2025. This page provides the latest reported value for - Turkey Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Turkey Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Turkey increased to 8.10 percent in January from 7.80 percent in December of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Turkey is expected to be 8.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Turkey Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 8.00 percent in 2027 and 7.90 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-01-29 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Dec 7.7% 8.5% 8.6%
2026-02-27 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 8.1% 7.8% 8.6%
2026-03-31 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 8.1% 8.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 31953.00 32469.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Employment Rate 47.90 48.70 percent Jan 2026
Participation Rate 52.10 53.20 percent Jan 2026
Labour Costs 996.00 975.10 points Dec 2025
Population 86.09 85.67 Million Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 2819.00 2736.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Unemployment Rate 8.10 7.80 percent Jan 2026
Wages 39253.00 23789.00 TRY/Month Dec 2024
Wages in Manufacturing 1025.10 1015.80 points Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.30 14.20 percent Jan 2026


Turkey Unemployment Rate
In Turkey, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
8.10 7.80 14.10 7.80 2005 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Turkish Jobless Rate Rises from December's Record Low
Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.1% in January 2026 from a marginally revised from a record low of 7.8% in the previous month. The number of unemployed declined by 73,000 to a 2.82 million. Meanwhile, total employment dropped by 516,000 to 31.95 million, bringing the employment rate eased to 47.9% from 48.7%, marking the lowest level since March 2023. By gender, the employment rate eased slipped for both men (65.3% vs. 66.5%) and women (30.9% vs. 31.4%). Labor force participation rate was down to 52.1% from 52.9% in December, pointing to the lowest figure since February 2022. Meanwhile, youth unemployment was little changed (14.3% vs 14.2%).
2026-02-27
Turkish Jobless Rate Lowest Since 2005
Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 7.7% in December 2025, down from a downwardly revised 8.5% in November. It marked the lowest jobless rate since the data began in 2005, as the number of unemployed decreased by 286,000 to a near 12-year low of 2.74 million. Meanwhile, total employment fell by 42,000 to 32.69 million, bringing the employment rate steady at 49.1%. By gender, male employment was unchanged at 66.8%, while female employment declined to 31.7% from 31.9%. Labor force participation declined to 53.2% from 53.7%. On the other hand, youth unemployment (ages 15–24) dropped to 14.1% in December from 15.2%, marking the lowest level since June 2001.
2026-01-29
Turkish Jobless Rate Edges Up to 8.6% in November
Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched higher to 8.6% in November 2025, up from October’s three-month low of 8.5%. The number of unemployed increased by 54,000 to a 13-month high of 3.10 million. At the same time, total employment rose by 75,000 to a three-month high of 32.74 million, lifting the employment rate to 49.2% from 49.1%. By gender, male employment increased to 66.8% from 66.5%, while female employment declined to 31.9% from 32.4%. Labor force participation edged up to 53.8% from 53.7%, reflecting gradual gains in workforce engagement. However, youth unemployment (ages 15–24) remained unchanged at 15.4% in November, staying at the lowest level in three months.
2025-12-30