Turkish Jobless Rate Highest in 7 Months

Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.4% in September 2026 from an upwardly revised 7.9% in the previous month. This was the highest jobless rate since February, as the number of unemployed individuals increased by 198,000 to 2.97 million. By gender, the jobless rate stood at 6.9% for men and 11.3% for women. Meanwhile, the employment rate edged down to 48.3% from 48.4%, as the number of employed persons fell by 49,000 to 32.45 million. The labor force participation rate inched up to 52.7% from 52.6% in the previous month, with the labor force increasing by 149,000 to 35.41 million. Among youth aged 15–24, the unemployment rate increased to 14.8% from 13.2%, with rates of 10.4% for men and 23.3% for women. Average weekly actual working hours stood at 42.4 hours in September, down by 0.1 hours from the previous month.

Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 7.8% in August 2026 from 8.1% in the previous month. The number of unemployed individuals declined by 106,000 to 2.74 million. By gender, the jobless rate stood at 6.6% for men and 10.1% for women. Among youth aged 15–24, the unemployment rate declined to 13.0% from 14.1%, with rates of 9.7% for men and 19.4% for women. Meanwhile, the employment rate edged up to 48.4% from 48.3%, as the number of employed persons increased by 136,000 to 32.51 million. The labor force participation rate stood at 52.5%, unchanged from the previous month, with the labor force increasing by 29,000 to 35.25 million. Average weekly actual working hours stood at 42.5 hours in July, up by 0.5 hours from the previous month.

Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.1% in July 2026 from 7.6% in the previous month, which was the lowest jobless rate since the data series began in 2005. The latest reading was the same as the May figure, with the number of unemployed individuals increasing by 150,000 to 2.86 million. By gender, the jobless rate stood at 6.8% for men and 10.6% for women. Among youth aged 15–24, the unemployment rate climbed to 14.5% from 13.0%, with rates of 11.3% for men and 20.3% for women. Meanwhile, the employment rate fell to 48.3% from 48.9%, as the number of employed persons decreased by 338,000 to 32.36 million. The labor force participation rate dropped to 52.5% from 52.9%, with the labor force declining by 238,000 to 35.22 million. Average weekly actual working hours stood at 42.0 hours in July, down by 0.4 hours from the previous month.