Unemployment rose to 8.1 percent in July: Number of unemployed reached 2 million 860 thousand

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) has released labor force statistics for July 2026. According to seasonally adjusted data, the unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous month, reaching 8.1 percent.

In July, the number of unemployed was calculated at 2 million 860 thousand, an increase of 150 thousand people. The unemployment rate was 6.8 percent for men and 10.6 percent for women.

A decline was recorded in employment. The number of employed people decreased by 388 thousand on a monthly basis, falling to 32 million 362 thousand. The employment rate was 48.3 percent, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points.

According to the data, the employment rate was recorded at 65.5 percent for men and 31.4 percent for women. The labor force also decreased by 238 thousand people in the same period, falling to 35 million 222 thousand. The labor force participation rate dropped by 0.4 percentage points to 52.5 percent.

INCREASE IN YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

The unemployment rate for the youth population, covering the 15-24 age group, increased by 1.5 percentage points in July to 14.5 percent. While the unemployment rate for young men was 11.3 percent, this rate was announced as 20.3 percent for young women.

A decline was also observed in working hours. The seasonally and calendar-adjusted average weekly actual working hours of those employed and at work during the reference period decreased by 0.4 hours compared to the previous month, reaching 42 hours.

The idle labor force rate, which reflects a broader view of the labor market, increased by 1.8 percentage points in July to 30.6 percent. The combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment was estimated at 20.8 percent, while the combined rate of unemployment and potential labor force was estimated at 19.5 percent.