عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Unemployment Rates Increase in Turkey

Reuters
Reuters
TT
20
TT

Unemployment Rates Increase in Turkey

Reuters
Reuters

The Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) has issued a report revealing an unprecedented increase in the unemployment rate in Turkey during only one year.

The report indicated an annual increase of 68.5 percent in June compared to the same period in 2018, adding that the number of those unemployed has amounted to 4.4 million, up from 2.6 million in June 2018, an increase of 1.8 million.

In its 83rd annual report, which was prepared in cooperation with the Turkish Employment Agency and the Statistical Institute, SETA relied on monitoring registered unemployment only, which does not include unregistered unemployment, such as those who work on a seasonal or daily basis.

According to the report, among people between 15 and 64 years, the number of registered unemployed females rose by 66.1 percent and for males by 71.3 percent.

While among people between 15 and 24 years, the number of registered unemployed females rose by 86 percent and 75.5 percent for males, compared to June 2018.

The increase in the number of unemployed people holding a middle school diploma was the largest among all other categories with 661,000 extra unemployed persons compared to last year.

They were followed by high school graduates with 470,000 while the number of unemployed among those with a university degree increased by 172,000.

It increased by 8,000 among those holding a master's degree and 235 among those who have a doctorate in different majors. Unemployment among university graduates rose by 112 percent.

As for the uneducated, the number of unemployed rose by 119,000.

The agency stated that the Turkish unemployment rate rose in June to 14.3 percent compared with 11 percent in the same month of 2018.

Official data showed that non-agricultural unemployment rose from 3.6 percent to 15 percent during the same period.

Seasonally adjusted employment fell by 74,000 from the previous period, estimated at 28.4 million people, and the number of seasonally unemployed people increased by 7,000 persons, bringing the total number to 4.49 million people.

Most Viewed

 
Business

IMF Team Makes First Syria Visit Since 2009

Syrians attend Eid al-Adha prayers in the courtyard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus, Syria, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
Syrians attend Eid al-Adha prayers in the courtyard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus, Syria, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
TT
20
TT

IMF Team Makes First Syria Visit Since 2009

Syrians attend Eid al-Adha prayers in the courtyard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus, Syria, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
Syrians attend Eid al-Adha prayers in the courtyard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus, Syria, 06 June 2025. (EPA)

An IMF team visited Syria for the first time since 2009 to take part in efforts to rebuild the economy after years of civil war and the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the lender said Tuesday.

The International Monetary Fund's trip to Damascus took place from June 1 to June 5, and its team sought to discuss authorities' priorities and how to help achieve them.

Syria's economy and the country are a wreck after 14 years of war under Assad, who was ousted in December.

"Syria faces enormous challenges following years of conflict that caused immense human suffering and reduced its economy to a fraction of its former size," said Ron van Rooden, who led the visit.

Around six million people have fled the country while another seven million have been displaced internally, he noted.

"Output has plummeted, real incomes have fallen sharply, and poverty rates are high," he said, adding that state institutions have also been weakened with much infrastructure destroyed.

"There is great urgency to address these challenges and achieve a sustainable economic recovery," van Rooden said in a statement at the end of the mission.

Much of Syria's infrastructure has been destroyed by the war, which began with a bloody crackdown on peaceful anti-regime protests.

Longtime strongman Assad was ousted in a lightning offensive by opposition factions in December, and Syria's new government has sought to rebuild diplomatic ties, including with international financial institutions.

Last month, the IMF said it had held useful discussions with Syria's economic team.

The Fund's last comprehensive review of the health of the Syrian economy was done in 2009, before the outbreak of the war in 2011.

In April, Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced that they would settle Syria's debt to the World Bank totaling about $15 million.

The World Bank suspended operations in Syria when the war began. The settlement of its arrears will allow it to resume accessing the bank's financial support and technical advice.