Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.5% in February 2026, the highest level in three months, from an upwardly revised 8.2% in January. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 133 thousand from a month earlier to 2.98 million. By gender, the jobless rate was 6.9% for men and 11.6% for women. Among youth aged 15-24, the unemployment rate climbed to 15.8% from 14.4%. Meanwhile, the employment rate edged up to 48.2% from 48.0% in the previous month, with the number of employed persons rising by 153 thousand to 32.16 million. The labor force participation rate picked up, reaching 52.6% from a near four-year low of 52.3% in January. source: Turkish Statistical Institute

Unemployment Rate in Turkey increased to 8.50 percent in February from 8.20 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Turkey averaged 10.25 percent from 2005 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 14.10 percent in August of 2019 and a record low of 7.90 percent in December of 2025. This page provides the latest reported value for - Turkey Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Turkey Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Turkey increased to 8.50 percent in February from 8.20 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Turkey is expected to be 8.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Turkey Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 8.00 percent in 2027 and 7.90 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-27 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 8.1% 7.8% 8.6%
2026-03-31 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 8.5% 8.2% 8.5%
2026-04-29 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 8.5% 8.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 32158.00 32005.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Employment Rate 48.20 48.00 percent Feb 2026
Participation Rate 52.60 52.30 percent Feb 2026
Labour Costs 996.00 975.10 points Dec 2025
Population 86.09 85.67 Million Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 2981.00 2848.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Unemployment Rate 8.50 8.20 percent Feb 2026
Wages 39253.00 23789.00 TRY/Month Dec 2024
Wages in Manufacturing 1025.10 1015.80 points Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 15.80 14.40 percent Feb 2026


Turkey Unemployment Rate
In Turkey, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
8.50 8.20 14.10 7.90 2005 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Turkey Jobless Rate Hits 3-Month High
Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.5% in February 2026, the highest level in three months, from an upwardly revised 8.2% in January. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 133 thousand from a month earlier to 2.98 million. By gender, the jobless rate was 6.9% for men and 11.6% for women. Among youth aged 15-24, the unemployment rate climbed to 15.8% from 14.4%. Meanwhile, the employment rate edged up to 48.2% from 48.0% in the previous month, with the number of employed persons rising by 153 thousand to 32.16 million. The labor force participation rate picked up, reaching 52.6% from a near four-year low of 52.3% in January.
2026-03-31
Turkish Jobless Rate Rises from December's Record Low
Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.1% in January 2026 from a marginally revised from a record low of 7.8% in the previous month. The number of unemployed declined by 73,000 to a 2.82 million. Meanwhile, total employment dropped by 516,000 to 31.95 million, bringing the employment rate eased to 47.9% from 48.7%, marking the lowest level since March 2023. By gender, the employment rate eased slipped for both men (65.3% vs. 66.5%) and women (30.9% vs. 31.4%). Labor force participation rate was down to 52.1% from 52.9% in December, pointing to the lowest figure since February 2022. Meanwhile, youth unemployment was little changed (14.3% vs 14.2%).
2026-02-27
Turkish Jobless Rate Lowest Since 2005
Turkey’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 7.7% in December 2025, down from a downwardly revised 8.5% in November. It marked the lowest jobless rate since the data began in 2005, as the number of unemployed decreased by 286,000 to a near 12-year low of 2.74 million. Meanwhile, total employment fell by 42,000 to 32.69 million, bringing the employment rate steady at 49.1%. By gender, male employment was unchanged at 66.8%, while female employment declined to 31.7% from 31.9%. Labor force participation declined to 53.2% from 53.7%. On the other hand, youth unemployment (ages 15–24) dropped to 14.1% in December from 15.2%, marking the lowest level since June 2001.
2026-01-29