TÜİK announces the real unemployment rate

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) has announced unemployment figures for March. According to the results of the Household Labor Force Survey, the number of unemployed persons aged 15 and over decreased by 65 thousand in March 2025 compared to the previous month, reaching 2 million 807 thousand. The unemployment rate decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 7.9%. The unemployment rate was estimated at 6.5% for men and 10.6% for women.

The idle labor force rate, which consists of time-related underemployment, the potential labor force, and the unemployed, and which indicates the real unemployment rate, increased by 0.3 percentage points in March 2025 compared to the previous month, reaching 28.8%.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED EMPLOYMENT

The number of employed persons increased by 391 thousand in March 2025 compared to the previous month, reaching 32 million 597 thousand, and the employment rate increased by 0.6 percentage points to 49.2%. This rate was 66.9% for men and 31.9% for women.

The labor force increased by 325 thousand in March 2025 compared to the previous month, reaching 35 million 404 thousand, and the labor force participation rate increased by 0.4 percentage points to 53.4%. The labor force participation rate was 71.6% for men and 35.7% for women.

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AT 15.1%

The unemployment rate for the youth population, covering the 15-24 age group, increased by 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous month, reaching 15.1%. In this age group, the unemployment rate was estimated at 11.0% for men and 22.6% for women.

The seasonally and calendar-adjusted average actual weekly working hours of those employed and at work during the reference period increased by 0.3 hours in March 2025 compared to the previous month, reaching 43.7 hours.

IDLE LABOR FORCE RATE REACHED 28.8%

The idle labor force rate, consisting of time-related underemployment, the potential labor force, and the unemployed, increased by 0.3 percentage points in March 2025 compared to the previous month, reaching 28.8%. While the combined rate of time-related underemployment and the unemployed was 17.9%, the combined rate of the unemployed and the potential labor force was estimated at 20.1%.

News Source: 12punto