Türkiye’s unemployment rate falls to 7.9% as employment reaches 32.48 million

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the number of employed people aged 15 and over increased by 155,000 from the previous quarter to 32.48 million between April and June.

The employment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 48.5%, while the labor force participation rate reached 52.7%. The total labor force expanded by 71,000 to 35.28 million during the quarter.

The data showed the unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 fell 1 percentage point to 13.9%, standing at 11.0% among men, compared with 19.3% among women.

Across the overall workforce, unemployment was 6.7% for men and 10.3% for women.

Employment in services increased by 240,000, while construction added 25,000 jobs and agriculture gained 10,000, while industrial employment declined by 121,000.

The services sector accounted for the largest share of employment, representing 59.8% of all jobs in the second quarter, followed by industry at 19.7%, agriculture at 13.7% and construction at 6.8%.

Türkiye’s composite labor underutilization rate, which measures broader labor market slack, edged down 0.2 percentage points to 29.9% in the second quarter.

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said the average informal employment rate in non-agricultural sectors over the past year was 15.7%, describing the figure as significantly below its historical average.

Simsek also highlighted the fiscal benefits of rising formal employment, noting that jobs covered by social security contribute to public finances.

“We are continuing our policies that strengthen human capital, support employment, and increase labor force participation,” he said.

Earlier, Qazinform reported Istanbul Airport breaks daily passenger and flight records.