The number of unemployed increased by 198 thousand in one month: Unemployment reached 8.4 percent

According to the September 2026 labor force statistics of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), the unemployment rate increased by 0.5 points compared to the previous month, reaching 8.4 percent.

The number of unemployed people aged 15 and over increased by 198 thousand people in September, reaching 2 million 967 thousand.

The unemployment rate was estimated at 6.9 percent for men and 11.3 percent for women.

EMPLOYMENT DECREASED BY 49 THOUSAND PEOPLE

The number of employed people decreased by 49 thousand people in September compared to the previous month, falling to 32 million 445 thousand.

The employment rate also decreased by 0.1 point to 48.3 percent.

This rate was recorded as 65.8 percent for men and 31.2 percent for women.

LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION INCREASED TO 52.7 PERCENT

The workforce increased by 149 thousand people in September, reaching 35 million 412 thousand.

The labor force participation rate increased by 0.1 point to 52.7 percent.

The labor force participation rate was calculated as 70.7 percent for men and 35.2 percent for women.

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASED BY 1.6 POINTS

The unemployment rate in the young population, covering the 15-24 age group, increased by 1.6 points compared to the previous month, reaching 14.8 percent.

While the unemployment rate for young men was 10.4 percent, it rose to 23.3 percent for young women.

Thus, the unemployment rate for young women has exceeded twice that of young men.

idle labor force rate is 31.2 percent

The idle labor force rate, which consists of time-related underemployment, potential labor force and unemployed people, increased by 0.2 points in September and reached 31.2 percent.

The integrated rate of time-related underemployment and the unemployed was estimated at 20.5 percent, and the integrated rate of the unemployed and potential labor force was estimated at 20.7 percent.

AVERAGE WEEKLY WORKING TIME 42.4 HOURS

Among those who were employed during the reference period, the average weekly actual working time, adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects, decreased by 0.1 hour to 42.4 hours in September compared to the previous month.