The unemployment crisis has been deepening with each passing day. Almost 4 million people within the age range of 15-56 years look for work in Turkey. One out of every four young is unemployed.
According to the report of DİSK-AR, the research bureau of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions, based on the own calculations of the bureau and the statistics released by Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT), the unemployment is on rise. The official or narrow, unemployment rate rose to 12.7% by December 2016. This corresponds to 3 million and 372 thousand people.
Unemployment rate 2008-2016. Source: March 2016 Report of DISK-AR
The calculations of DİSK-AR suggest a more severe situation. According to the bureau’s report, the real number of unemployed is around 7 million. This figure is found by adding discouraged workers, those who are not seeking a job but available to start, time-related underemployment and seasonal workers to the narrow defined unemployed. This sum corresponds to 21% of the Turkish workforce by December.
‘CRISIS DAYS ARE BACK’
The official unemployment rate of 12.7%, increasing by 1.9% with respect to the same period in the previous year, attains that of the December 2008, mentions DİSK-AR. The research bureau underlines that the figures translate as the crisis days are back. The number of the unemployed is at its highest level in the last ten years.
Number of unemployed (in thousand) 2006-2016. Source: March 2016 Report of DISK-AR
YOUTH AND FEMALE UNEMPLOYMENT ARE STRIKING
DİSK-AR states that the youth unemployment (15-24 years) persists to be high with a rate of 24% in all sectors, by increasing 4.8% with respect to the same period in the previous year. This figure has become 26.6% for the non-agricultural sector by December.
The unemployment of women in the non-agricultural sector continues to increase. This rate has increased by 3.3% and reached at 20.1% by December 2016.
For young women, the situation is even worse with 28.8% in all sectors, by increasing 8.1% with respect to the same period in the previous year, and 33.6% for non-agricultural sectors.
