Türkiye’s Unemployment Falls to 8.4%, But Gender Gap Remains Stark
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According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), Türkiye’s unemployment rate dropped to 8.4% in May 2025, marking a 0.2-point decrease compared to the previous month. While this signals some overall improvement in the labor market, joblessness remains disproportionately high among women and youth.
Unemployment Drops, Yet Inequality Persists
The total number of unemployed fell by 69,000 to 2.97 million, according to seasonally adjusted data. The male unemployment rate stood at 6.5%, whereas female unemployment climbed to 11.9%, underlining persistent gender disparities in Türkiye’s labor market.
Employment Rises to 49%, But Women Lag Behind
The number of employed people increased by 100,000, reaching 32.52 million, which pushed the employment rate to 49%. However, while 66.3% of men are employed, only 32.2% of women participate in the labor force—highlighting a stark imbalance.
Youth Joblessness Still Alarming, Especially for Women
The unemployment rate among youth (aged 15–24) was recorded at 15.4%. A closer look reveals a significant gender divide: 11% for young men, compared to a concerning 23.5% for young women.
Underutilized Labor Force Rate at 31%
The combined underutilized labor force rate, which includes time-related underemployment, the unemployed, and potential labor force, fell to 31%—a 1.1-point drop from the previous month. Despite this, it still reflects a large untapped labor pool.
Working Hours See Modest Increase
The average actual weekly working hours for employed individuals increased by 0.6 hours to 42.7 hours, suggesting modest improvement in workload and productivity.
Female Labor Participation Still Critically Low
Overall labor force participation rate stood at 53.5%, unchanged from the previous month. However, a deep divide persists: while 70.9% of men participate in the workforce, only 36.5% of women are part of it—highlighting a chronic gender participation gap.
