Türkiye: jobs and pay

What is the youth unemployment rate in Turkey?

Turkey's youth unemployment rate, for ages 15 to 24, was 13.0% in August 2026, down 1.1 percentage points from July, according to TurkStat's seasonally adjusted Household Labour Force Survey. It was 9.7% for young men and 19.4% for young women. The overall unemployment rate was 7.8%.

Monthly labour force figures can move by a point or more from one month to the next because they come from a sample survey. In the second quarter of 2026 the youth rate was 13.9%, TurkStat's quarterly release shows. The unemployment rate counts only people actively looking for work and available to start.

Official sources: TurkStat: Labour Force Statistics, August 2026 · TurkStat: Quarterly Labour Force Statistics, Q2 2026

What is the broad unemployment rate in Turkey?

Turkey's composite measure of labour underutilisation was 29.9% in the second quarter of 2026, down 0.2 percentage points from the first quarter, according to TurkStat. The headline unemployment rate was 7.9%. Combining unemployment with time-related underemployment gave 19.3%, and unemployment with the potential labour force 20.0%.

The composite measure adds people who work fewer hours than they want and people who want a job but are not actively searching or not immediately available. It is published alongside the headline rate. Average actual working hours were 42.3 a week.

Official sources: TurkStat: Quarterly Labour Force Statistics, Q2 2026

How many women work in Turkey?

31.5% of Turkish women aged 15 and over were employed in August 2026, against 65.8% of men, according to TurkStat's seasonally adjusted Household Labour Force Survey. Women's labour force participation rate was 35.0%, and their unemployment rate 10.1%, against 6.6% for men. 10,673,000 women were employed.

The participation rate counts people who are working or looking for work. Among young women aged 15 to 24, the unemployment rate was 19.4%. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security sets labour policy.

Official sources: TurkStat: Labour Force Statistics, August 2026 · Ministry of Labour and Social Security

What is Turkey's labour force participation rate?

Turkey's labour force participation rate was 52.5% in August 2026, unchanged from July, according to TurkStat's seasonally adjusted Household Labour Force Survey. It was 70.5% for men and 35.0% for women. The labour force was 35,247,000 people, of whom 32,507,000 were employed and 2,740,000 unemployed. The employment rate was 48.4%.

The participation rate is the share of the population aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work. 31,857,000 people were outside the labour force. In the second quarter of 2026 services employed 59.8% of workers and agriculture 13.7%, the quarterly release shows.

Official sources: TurkStat: Labour Force Statistics, August 2026 · TurkStat: Quarterly Labour Force Statistics, Q2 2026

How many paid employees are there in Turkey?

Turkey had 16,393,563 paid employees in industry, construction, trade and services in July 2026, 1.7% more than a year earlier, according to TurkStat. Employees in industry fell 1.5% to 4,850,893, including a 1.7% fall in manufacturing. Construction rose 3.5% to 2,071,211, and trade and services 3.1% to 9,471,459.

The figures come from social security records and cover registered employees, so they leave out the self-employed, unpaid family workers, agriculture and public administration. The number of paid employees was unchanged from June 2026.

Official sources: TurkStat: Paid Employee Statistics, July 2026

How much is the minimum wage in Türkiye?

33,030 TRY a month: that is the statutory minimum wage in Türkiye for 2026, according to the ILO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2012.

What is the average wage in Türkiye?

In 2025, average monthly earnings of employees in Türkiye was $1,001 a month, according to the ILO. That is the highest since at least 2012. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was $3,252 a month, and Türkiye placed 30th highest of 32. Of 57 countries with 2025 data, 33rd highest.

What is Türkiye's unemployment rate?

According to the ILO, the unemployment rate in Türkiye was 8.5% in 2025. No year since 2005 has been lower. Europe & Central Asia median: 5.5%; Türkiye is 11th highest of 47. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 43rd highest.

What is the youth unemployment rate in Türkiye?

In 2025, unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Türkiye was 16.0%, according to the ILO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 21st highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 14.2%. World rank, highest first: 64th of 174.

What is the labour force participation rate in Türkiye?

The ILO puts the labour force participation rate in Türkiye at 54.4% in 2025. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 38th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 60.3%. Worldwide: 135th of 174.

What is female labour force participation in Türkiye?

In 2025, the labour force participation rate for women in Türkiye was 37.1%, according to the ILO. No year since 2005 has been higher. Europe & Central Asia median: 54.6%; Türkiye is 46th highest of 47. Worldwide: 150th of 174.

How many people in Türkiye are employed?

The ILO puts the employment to population ratio in Türkiye at 49.7% in 2025. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 56.6%, and Türkiye placed 39th highest of 47. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 137th highest.

What is vulnerable employment in Türkiye?

The ILO puts the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Türkiye at 23.9% in 2025. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 11th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 11.0%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 104th highest.

What share of jobs in Türkiye are salaried?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 71.5%. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 37th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 85.5%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 74th highest.