Unemployment rate in Turkey reaches record level

Economic contraction has negatively affected employment in Turkey. Layoffs have increased in many sectors, particularly in the industrial sector, which remains under the pressure of high interest rates and inflation. While 2.2 million people have lost their jobs in the last year, the number of actual unemployed people has approached the 13 million level.

According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the number of unemployed people increased by 203 thousand in April 2025, reaching 3 million 63 thousand. The unemployment rate was recorded at 8.6 percent. The number of employed people decreased by 316 thousand, falling to 32 million 359 thousand. The broad-based unemployment rate rose to 32.2 percent in April.

THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN MANY YEARS

A report prepared by DİSK-AR stated that the actual unemployment rate has reached 13 million and that this figure is the highest unemployment rate recorded in the history of Turkey.

The report noted that the 32.2 percent broad-based unemployment rate, which covers 13 million people, is at its highest level since January 2014, and pointed out that the 32.2 percent broad-based unemployment rate has broken the record of the last 136 months.

There has also been a significant decline in female employment. According to TÜİK data, the labor force decreased by 114 thousand in April to 35 million 421 thousand. The unemployment rate was estimated at 7.1 percent for men and 11.5 percent for women. According to the DİSK-AR report, the broad-based unemployment rate was calculated at 27.5 percent for men and 40 percent for women.

EFFECTS OF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION

Economists are drawing attention to the severe consequences of the current economic program. Economist Prof. Dr. Hayri Kozanoğlu stated that the rise in the idle labor force rate to 32.2 percent is worrying. Financial Markets Expert İris Cibre expressed that the rise of the broad-based unemployment rate to 32.2 percent means that one in every three people is unemployed.

News Source: 12punto