Unemployment problem grows in Turkey
According to data published by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the number of unemployed people in Turkey has risen to 3 million 75 thousand. There has been an increase in the number of unionized workers.
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The Ministry of Labor and Social Security has published the November 2025 Working Life Statistics Bulletin, sharing important data regarding Turkey's labor market. According to this data, the unemployment rate has increased, and the number of unemployed people has risen to 3 million 75 thousand. In September, the number of unemployed was recorded at 2 million 828 thousand.
EMPLOYMENT AND IDLE LABOR FORCE STATUS
According to other data in the bulletin, the total number of employed people in Turkey was announced as 32 million 491 thousand. The idle labor force rate was 28.6 percent. Weekly working hours were also detailed; the weekly working time was stated as 45.1 hours for men and 38.5 hours for women.
The Working Life Statistics Bulletin also included sectoral distribution. The sector with the highest number of paid employees was trade and services at 57.1 percent, while the industrial sector ranked second at 30.6 percent. The construction sector remained in third place with 12.3 percent.
NUMBER OF UNIONIZED WORKERS INCREASED
According to the data in the bulletin, the total number of workers in Turkey reached 17 million 326 thousand 143. Of these workers, 2 million 429 thousand 527 were recorded as unionized. This means that the worker unionization rate is 14.02 percent.
UNIONIZATION RATE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
The number of unionized employees in the public sector also drew attention. In the public sector, 2 million 319 thousand 157 out of 3 million 16 thousand 495 people are unionized. The confederation with the most unionized employees was MEMUR-SEN with 1 million 78 thousand 381 members. Türkiye Kamu-Sen, Birleşik Kamu-İş, and KESK were listed as other major confederations with unions.
SOCIAL SECURITY DATA
Social security data was also conveyed in the bulletin. While the number of active insured persons in Turkey was announced as 25 million 813 thousand 500, the number of passive insured persons was determined as 16 million 936 thousand 679. The number of people receiving old-age pensions was recorded as 12 million 221 thousand 021, and the number of people receiving death benefits was 4 million 379 thousand 496.