Unemployment Rates Increase in Turkey

Reuters
Reuters
TT
20

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.



US Close to Several Trade Deals, Announcements to be Made in Next Days, Bessent Says

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the US Capitol as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass US President Donald Trump’s sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the US Capitol as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass US President Donald Trump’s sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo
TT
20

US Close to Several Trade Deals, Announcements to be Made in Next Days, Bessent Says

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the US Capitol as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass US President Donald Trump’s sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the US Capitol as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass US President Donald Trump’s sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo

The United States is close to clinching several trade deals ahead of a July 9 deadline when higher tariffs kick in, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday, predicting several big announcements in coming days.

Bessent told CNN's "State of the Union" the Trump administration would also send out letters to 100 smaller countries with whom the US doesn't have much trade, notifying them that they would face higher tariff rates first set on April 2 and then suspended until July 9.

"President Trump's going to be sending letters to some of our trading partners saying that if you don't move things along, then on August 1 you will boomerang back to your April 2 tariff level. So I think we're going to see a lot of deals very quickly," Bessent said.

Bessent denied that August 1 was a new deadline for negotiations. "We are saying this is when it's happening. If you want to speed things up, have at it. If you want to go back to the old rate, that's your choice," he told CNN, Reuters reported.

The US Treasury chief said the Trump administration was focused on 18 important trading partners that account for 95% of the US trade deficit. But he said there had been "a lot of foot-dragging" among countries in getting closure on a trade deal.

He declined to name countries that were close to a trade agreement, adding, "because I don't want to let them off the hook."

Trump has repeatedly said India is close to signing a deal and expressed hope that an agreement could be reached with the European Union, while casting doubt on a deal with Japan.

Since taking office, the US president has set off a global trade war that has upended financial markets and sent policymakers scrambling to guard their economies, including through deals with the US and other countries.

Trump on April 2 announced a 10% base tariff rate and additional amounts for most countries, some ranging as high as 50%. The news roiled financial markets, prompting Trump to suspend all but the 10% base rate for 90 days to allow more time for negotiations to secure deals, but the process has proven more challenging than expected.

That period ends on July 9, although Trump early on Friday said the tariffs could be even higher - ranging up to 70% - with most set to go into effect August 1.

Bessent, asked about the 70% rate, referred back to the April 2 list, but that did not include such high rates.