Turkey's Unemployment Rate Rises to 8.4 Percent in September 2026

According to the results of the Household Labour Force Survey for September 2026 announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous month, realizing as 8.4 percent. Across the country, the number of unemployed increased by 198 thousand people to 2 million 967 thousand people.

According to the announced data, the unemployment rate was estimated at 6.9 percent for men and 11.3 percent for women. In the youth population covering the 15-24 age group, the unemployment rate reached 14.8 percent with an increase of 1.6 percentage points compared to the previous month. In the youth group, the unemployment rate was recorded as 10.4 percent for men and 23.3 percent for women.

While the seasonally adjusted number of employed persons decreased by 49 thousand people to 32 million 445 thousand people, the employment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 48.3 percent. In the same period, the labour force increased by 149 thousand people to 35 million 412 thousand people, and the labour force participation rate increased by 0.1 percentage points, realizing as 52.7 percent.

In the data, the average actual weekly working hours were recorded as 42.4 hours, while the idle labour force rate reached 31.2 percent with an increase of 0.2 percentage points.