Türkiye’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 7.9% in March 2025, according to data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) on Tuesday.

This marks a 0.3 percentage point decrease compared to the previous month, reflecting ongoing improvements in the country's labor market.

Based on the latest Household Labour Force Survey, the number of unemployed individuals aged 15 and over dropped by 65,000, reaching a total of 2 million 807 thousand. The unemployment rate for men was recorded at 6.5%, while it stood significantly higher for women at 10.6%.

Employment Rate Rises to 49.2%

Türkiye’s employment figures also showed notable growth. The number of employed persons increased by 391,000 from the previous month, bringing the total to 32 million 597 thousand. Consequently, the seasonally adjusted employment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points to 49.2%. The employment rate for men was measured at 66.9%, compared to 31.9% for women.

Labour Force Participation Strengthens

The labour force participation rate also saw gains. The number of individuals in the labour force rose by 325,000 to reach 35 million 404 thousand. The participation rate climbed 0.4 percentage points to 53.4%, with male participation at 71.6% and female participation at 35.7%.

Youth Unemployment Slightly Increases

While overall unemployment declined, the youth unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 saw a slight increase. The seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 15.1%. For young men, the rate was 11.0%, while it was significantly higher for young women at 22.6%.

Working Hours and Labour Underutilization

The seasonally and calendar-adjusted average weekly actual working hours for those employed increased to 43.7 hours, up by 0.3 hours compared to February 2025.

Meanwhile, the composite measure of labour underutilization — which includes time-related underemployment, potential labour force, and unemployment — rose to 28.8%, a 0.3 percentage point increase from the previous month. Within this measure, the combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment was 17.9%, while the combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force stood at 20.1%.

As Türkiye continues to navigate economic challenges, the latest data suggests a cautiously positive trend in employment, although youth unemployment and overall labour underutilization remain persistent concerns. (ILKHA)