Turkish Government Targets “Stay Home Youth” in New Employment Push

Middle-term program aims to cut record-high idle labor force by integrating young people, welfare recipients, and underemployed into jobs.

Idle Labor at Record Levels

Turkey’s government has unveiled new measures to tackle its record-high idle labor force, with a particular focus on so-called “home youth” — young people who are neither studying, working, nor seeking jobs.

The initiative is part of the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Program (MTP), which outlines strategies to permanently reduce idle labor by instilling a production-oriented mindset from early ages and creating stronger incentives to join the workforce.

Linking Social Aid to Jobs

Under the plan, individuals in the potential labor force will be connected to career counseling services and active labor market programs, including skills development and tailored guidance.

The government will also strengthen ties between the social assistance system and labor programs. Welfare recipients will be offered more pathways into work through reskilling courses and employment-focused training, boosting both participation and employability.

According to a report in Sabah, reskilling will be prioritized for those unable to find jobs matching their current qualifications, with participants encouraged to transition into permanent employment. Family leave policies will also be revised to promote a fairer sharing of caregiving responsibilities.

One in Three Young People Are “Home Youth”

The challenge is significant:

• 31.3% of Turks aged 18–24 fall into the “home youth” category — not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

• This means one in three young people in Turkey is outside the system.

• By contrast, the OECD average stands at just 14.1%.

Official Data: Unemployment Down, Idle Labor High

According to Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) figures, the official unemployment rate stood at 8% in July 2025.

However, the broader idle labor force, which includes underemployed part-time workers, seasonal workers, and people ready to work but not actively job-seeking, remains near historic highs.

• July’s idle labor rate was 29.6%, only slightly down from 32.7% in June, still marking one of the highest levels on record.

Why It Matters

The government’s new strategy highlights the dual challenge of Turkey’s labor market:

• While headline unemployment appears moderate, the hidden workforce problem is far larger.

• The rise of home youth underscores risks to social cohesion, productivity, and long-term growth.

Whether the MTP’s promises of early workforce preparation, reskilling, and welfare-to-work integration can deliver results will be closely watched, as Turkey seeks to reverse its dependence on an idle labor pool that has become one of the biggest structural drags on its economy.