Turkish unemployment declined to 13.1 percent in Marchfrom 13.2 percent a month ago following the temporary ease of lockdown measures related with the COVID-19 pandemic. The recovery in demand and stronger exports had a positive impact on TUrkey’s labor markets.
Employment increased by 550,000 month-on-month to 28.09 million as 610,000 people joined the labour force. Female employment fell by 36,000, the institute said. The youth unemployment rate in the 15-24 age group reading was 25.0 percent with 0.7 percentage point decrease compared to the previous month and the employment rate was 31.4 percent with 1.4 percentage point increase.
In March 2021, the wider defined unemployment rate – composite measure of unemployment- was 25.8 percent with 2.3 percentage point decrease compared to the previous month.
Seasonally adjusted supplementary labour force indicators, March 2019-March 2021
Some companies re-employing people after putting them on unpaid leave during the pandemic. Turkey has the fastest-growing population among major economies in southeast Europe, meaning a constantly expanding labour force.
Turkish firms have been barred from sacking employees since the outbreak of COVID-19, meaning those put on unpaid leave do not show up in unemployment data.
Turkey’s government tightened lockdown measures last month to stop the spread of the coronavirus after daily cases rose to successive record highs.