2.1 million young people in Türkiye lose hope of finding work

Despite official data showing a decline in unemployment, 2.1 million people in Türkiye have lost hope of finding a job and are no longer seeking employment.

Another 1.9 million expressed willingness to work if opportunities were available, while 26.3% of young people aged 15-24 are neither enrolled in education or employed.

Official unemployment figures fall, broader data reveals harsh reality

Türkiye’s Statistical Institute (TurkStat) recently published detailed labor force data for the July-September period, unveiling a stark contrast between official unemployment rates and broader labor market challenges. According to the data:

• Narrowly defined official unemployment decreased by 20,000 compared to the previous quarter, falling to 3.1 million.
• Broader unemployment, including discouraged job seekers, surged to 10.65 million.
• The number of people outside the labor force reached 29.8 million, including 2.1 million who have abandoned the search for work.

Alarmingly, 31% of those who lost hope of finding a job are aged between 15 and 29. Furthermore, 1.92 million people said they would work if jobs were available but are not actively searching.

Record youth unemployment and rising NEET rates

Türkiye’s youth unemployment is breaking records. Among those aged 15-24, 26.3% are classified as NEET (not in education, employment, or training), the highest rate since labor surveys began in 2021. This equates to 3.07 million young individuals.

Some 36.3% of university graduates aged 15-24 fall into the NEET category. For many, prolonged job searches have become a psychological struggle, with TurkStat reporting that 20% of unemployed individuals have been seeking work for over a year.

Only 35% of workforce in full-time, registered employment

While TurkStat reported an official employment rate of 49.6% for the third quarter of 2024, figures from the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions Research Center (DISK-AR) paint a different picture:

• The registered full-time employment (KATI) rate was calculated at just 34.5%.
• For women, the official employment rate stood at 32.4%, but the KATI rate dropped to 19.6%.
• Among men, the official employment rate was 67.2%, with a KATI rate of 49.6%.

Of the 65.9 million working-age people in Türkiye, only 22.7 million are employed in full-time, registered positions. For women, only 6.5 million out of 33.3 million working-age individuals hold such jobs, compared to 16.2 million out of 32.6 million men.

Nation’s labor market in crisis

The data underscores significant challenges in Türkiye’s labor market. With millions discouraged or unable to find work, and a rising number of NEET youth, experts emphasize the urgent need for robust policies to address unemployment and improve labor market inclusivity.