Employment decreased by 2 million 411 thousand people in a year, says TurkStat

* Photo: Twitter

Click to read the article in Turkish

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) released "Labor Force Statistics" for May 2020 today (August 10).

According to the figures shared by the Institute, the number of unemployed people aged 15 and over decreased by 331 thousand to 3 million 826 thousand in May compared with the same period of the previous year.

In May 2020, when the effects of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic were strongly felt, the unemployment rate occurred as 12.9 percent with 0.1 percentage point increase. Non-agricultural unemployment rate occurred as 15.2 percent with 0.2 percentage point increase.

Employment rate dropped by 4.7 points

According to the TurkStat, the number of employed decreased by 2 million 411 thousand to 25 million 858 thousand persons in the period of May 2020 compared with the same period of the previous year. Employment rate occurred as 41.4 percent with 4.7 point decrease.

While the number of agricultural employment decreased by 308 thousand persons, that of industry decreased by 274 thousand persons, construction decreased by 206 thousand persons and services decreased by 1 million 622 thousand persons in this period.

According to the distribution of employment by sector; the TurkStat figures have shown that 18.8 percent was employed in agriculture, 20.4 percent was employed in industry, 5.2 percent was employed in construction and 55.6 percent was employed in services in May 2020.

Labour force participation rate: 47.6 percent

The number of persons in the labour force realized 29 million 684 thousand persons with 2 million 742 thousand persons decrease in the period of May 2020 compared with the same period of the previous year. Labour force participation rate was 47.6 percent with 5.3 percentage point decrease.

Rate of unregistered employment decreased

The ratio of persons working without any social security relating to the main job occurred 29.7 percent with 4.7 percentage point decrease in the period of May 2020 compared with the same period of the previous year.

The rate of unregistered employment realized as 17.4 percent with 5.4 percentage point decrease in the non-agricultural sector compared to the same period of the previous year.

Public sector employment increased

According to the data gathered by Presidency of Strategy and Budget, total public sector employment realized as 4 million 767 thousand persons with 4.3 percent percentage point increase in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same period of the previous year.

Unemployment rate in 15-64 age group

For the 15-64 age group, unemployment rate was 13.2 percent and employment rate was 45.9 percent in May.

For this age group, the unemployment rate occurred as 13.2 percent with 0.1 percentage point increase and non-agricultural unemployment rate occurred as 15.3 percent with 0.2 percentage point increase compared to the same period of the previous year.

In this age group, employment rate occurred as 45.9 percent with 4.8 percentage point decrease and labour force participation rate occurred as 52.9 percent with 5.4 percentage point decrease.

One out of four young people unemployed

In May 2020, the youth unemployment rate among those aged 15-24 years was 24.9 percent with 1.6 percentage point increase and youth employment rate was 26.6 percent with 6.8 percentage point decrease compared with the same period of the previous year.

In the same period, labour force participation rate realized as 35.4 percent with 8.2 percentage point decrease. The rate of neither in employment nor in education realized as 29.1 percent with 5.1 percentage point increase compared with the same period of the previous year.

Seasonally adjusted rates

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rate realized as 14 percent with 0.2 percentage point increase. The number of unemployed persons increased by 75 thousand to 4 million 166 thousand persons.

Seasonally adjusted employment rate realized as 40.9 percent with 0.1 percentage point decrease. The number of employed persons estimated as 25 million 525 thousand persons with 43 thousand persons decrease compared with the same period of the previous year.

Seasonally adjusted labour force participation rate was 47.6 percent without any change. The number of labour force estimated as 29 million 691 thousand persons with 32 thousand persons increase.

According to the seasonally adjusted number of employment by sectors, employment in agriculture increased by 96 thousand persons and construction increased by 107 thousand persons while industry decreased by 72 thousand persons and services decreased by 174 thousand persons. (HA/SD)