TÜİK announces unemployment rates

Official statistics indicated a limited improvement in the labor market in the last quarter of 2025. The Turkish Statistical Institute shared the results of the Labor Force Statistics for the IV. Quarter (October–December 2025) with the public. The announced data pointed to a decrease in unemployment and an increase in employment and labor force participation.

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED DECREASED BY 58 THOUSAND PEOPLE

According to seasonally adjusted data, the number of unemployed people aged 15 and over in the fourth quarter of 2025 decreased by 58 thousand compared to the previous quarter, reaching 2 million 913 thousand. In the same period, the unemployment rate occurred at the level of 8.2 percent with a 0.2 percentage point decrease.

When viewed by gender, the unemployment rate was estimated at 6.7 percent for men and 11.1 percent for women.

In the period in question, the number of employed people increased by 136 thousand on a quarterly basis, rising to 32 million 686 thousand. The seasonally adjusted employment rate showed an increase of 0.1 percentage points and was recorded at 49.1 percent.

The employment rate was 66.7 percent for men and 31.9 percent for women.

LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION WAS 53.5 PERCENT

The labor force reached 35 million 599 thousand people in the fourth quarter of 2025, an increase of 78 thousand compared to the previous quarter. The labor force participation rate was also calculated at 53.5 percent with a 0.1 percentage point increase.

This rate was determined to be 71.5 percent for men and 35.9 percent for women.

FEMALE UNEMPLOYMENT IS HIGHER IN THE YOUTH POPULATION

The unemployment rate in the youth population, which covers the 15–24 age group, decreased by 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous quarter, falling to 14.9 percent. While the youth unemployment rate was estimated at 11.8 percent for men, this rate occurred at the level of 20.7 percent for young women.