Turkish Jobless Rate Unchanged at 8.2% in May

Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 8.2% in May 2026, unchanged from the previous month. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 9 thousand to 2.88 million. By gender, the jobless rate stood at 7.0% for men and 10.5% for women. Among youth aged 15–24, the unemployment rate increased to 14.8% from 14.4%, with rates of 11.2% for men and 21.8% for women. Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to 48.5% from 48.1%, as the number of employed persons increased by 285 thousand to 32.46 million. The labor force participation rate climbed to 52.8% from 52.4%, with the labor force increasing by 293 thousand to 35.35 million. Average weekly actual working hours stood at 42.4 hours in May, up by 0.2 hours from the previous month.

Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up to 8.2% in April 2026 from 8.1% in March. The number of unemployed individuals declined by 5 thousand to 2.87 million. By gender, the jobless rate stood at 6.8% for men and 11.0% for women. Among youth aged 15–24, the unemployment rate decreased to 14.5% from 15.3%, with rates of 12.0% for men and 19.4% for women. Meanwhile, the employment rate fell to 48.1% from 48.7%, as the number of employed persons dropped by 356 thousand to 32.17 million. The labor force participation rate declined to 52.4% from 53.0%, with the labor force shrinking by 361 thousand to 35.03 million. Average weekly actual working hours stood at 42.1 hours in April, up by 0.3 hours from the previous month.

Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 8.1% in March 2026 from a downwardly revised 8.4% in February, marking the lowest reading in three months. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 96 thousand to 2.87 million. By gender, the jobless rate stood at 6.8% for men and 10.7% for women. Among youth aged 15–24, the unemployment rate declined to 15.3% from 15.8%, with rates of 12.8% for men and 20.4% for women. Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to 48.5% from 48.2%, as the number of employed persons increased by 226 thousand to 32.43 million. The labor force participation rate edged up to 52.8% from 52.7%, with the labor force expanding by 129 thousand to 35.30 million. Average weekly actual working hours stood at 41.7 in March, down by 0.8 hours from the previous month.