Türkiye’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 8.4% in January 2025

Türkiye’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 8.4% in January 2025, reflecting a 0.1 percentage point decrease from the previous month, according to the Household Labour Force Survey.

Decline in Unemployment Figures

The number of unemployed individuals aged 15 and over declined by 25,000, bringing the total to 3.002 million.

However, the seasonally adjusted employment rate dropped to 49.2%, marking a 0.3 percentage point decrease compared to the previous month. The total number of employed persons shrank by 195,000, settling at 32.531 million. Employment among men stood at 66.4%, while the employment rate for women remained significantly lower at 32.3%.

Labour Force Participation Declines

The labour force participation rate also experienced a decline, falling by 0.4 percentage points to 53.7%. The total number of people in the labour force dropped by 219,000 to 35.534 million. Participation among men reached 71.0%, whereas women’s participation stood at 36.7%.

Youth Unemployment and Working Hours

The youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) saw a notable decline of 0.8 percentage points, reaching 14.9%. The unemployment rate was 10.6% for men and 22.7% for women, emphasizing gender disparities in employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, seasonally and calendar-adjusted average weekly working hours increased by 0.8 hours, reaching 43.4 hours in January 2025.

Labour Underutilization Edges Up

The composite measure of labour underutilization, which accounts for time-related underemployment, potential labour force, and unemployment, slightly increased to 28.1%—a 0.1 percentage point rise. The combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment stood at 18.8%, while the rate of unemployment and potential labour force reached 18.9%.

As Türkiye navigates labour market fluctuations, these latest employment indicators highlight ongoing economic trends, including youth employment challenges and gender gaps in workforce participation.