Türkiye Unemployment Rate Drops to 7.9 Percent in Q2

The Turkish Statistical Institute reported that Türkiye's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 7.9 percent in the second quarter of 2026. During the April-June period, the number of unemployed individuals aged 15 and older decreased by 84,000, bringing the total to 2.8 million.

The employment rate rose slightly to 48.5 percent, with total employment reaching 32.48 million people. Growth was uneven across sectors; the services sector added 240,000 jobs, while industrial employment saw a decline of 121,000 positions. Youth unemployment also decreased, falling to 13.9 percent.

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek noted that the average informal employment rate in non-agricultural sectors remained at 15.7 percent, which is below historical averages. Simsek stated that the rise in formal employment benefits public finances and emphasized that the government is continuing policies to strengthen human capital, support employment, and increase labor force participation.