Türkiye's unemployment rate falls to 21-year low of 8.3% in 2025

Türkiye's unemployment rate last year fell to a historic low of 8.3%, dropping to its lowest level in 21 years, the country's statistical authority said Wednesday. The rate was down by 0.4 percentage points from the previous year, according to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat). The number of unemployed people age 15 and over in 2025 was down by 147,000 to 2.96 million.

Gender breakdown

Joblessness stood at 6.8% among men and 11.3% among women in the same period. The overall employment rate was down to 49%, including 66.4% for men and 32.1% for women. The labor force also shrank by 200,000 to 35.53 million, with the participation rate at 53.5%.

Youth unemployment

Youth unemployment—covering those age 15 to 24—fell 1 percentage point from 2024 to 15.3% last year. It was 11.7% for men and 22.1% for women, reflecting persistent gender gaps in the youth job market.

Employment trends

Meanwhile, employment also declined, with 54,000 fewer people working, bringing the total number of employed to 32.56 million. The mixed indicators—falling unemployment alongside falling employment—reflect a shrinking labor force, which can occur when people exit the workforce due to retirement, discouragement, or other factors.

Economic context

The historic low unemployment rate comes as Türkiye has navigated global economic headwinds, regional instability, and domestic policy adjustments. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has highlighted economic resilience amid the Middle East conflict, noting Türkiye's growth of 3.6% last year, making it the third fastest-growing country among OECD nations in 2025.