Turkey Statistical Institute (TSI), announced work force statistics for February 2021 period. Accordingly, the number of unemployed in Turkey in general people aged 15 and over increased by 250 thousand persons compared to the previous month in February was 4 million 236 thousand people. Unemployment rate reached 13.4 percent with an increase of 0.7 points. Unemployment rate increased by 0.7 points compared to the same month last year. Non-agricultural unemployment rate was calculated as 15.3 percent with an increase of 0.7 points compared to the previous month. In the said month, the unemployment rate among the young population covering the 15-24 age group was 26.9 percent with an increase of 0.4 points compared to the previous month, and the employment rate was 28.1 percent with a 0.3 point decrease. The rate of participation in the workforce in this age group decreased by 0.1 points compared to the previous month and realized at the level of 38.5 percent.
EMPLOYED DECREASED
Seasonally adjusted employed persons decreased by 22 thousand persons in February compared to the previous month and decreased to 27 million 477 thousand persons. The employment rate also decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 43.4 percent. Labor force participation rate increased by 0.3 points monthly to 50.1 percent. The number of people participating in the workforce increased by 226 thousand people and was recorded as 31 million 712 thousand people. During this period, the number of employed people decreased by 52 thousand in the agricultural sector and 166 thousand in the industrial sector, while the construction sector increased by 37 thousand and the service sector by 157 thousand. Of those employed, 17.4 percent were in agriculture, 20.8 percent in industry, 6 percent in construction, and 55.8 percent in the service sector.
PARTICIPATION IN THE WORKFORCE FALLS
Labor force participation rate decreased by 0.5 points compared to the same month of the previous year and became 49.9 percent. The number of people participating in the workforce increased by 275 thousand people and reached 31 million 595 thousand people. In February, the ratio of unregistered employees, which showed the share of employees without being affiliated with the social security organization, in the total employees decreased by 2.8 points compared to the same month of the previous year and decreased to 27.4 percent.
IDLE WORKFORCE DECREASED TO 28.3 PERCENT
The idle workforce rate, consisting of time-dependent underemployment, potential workforce and unemployed, decreased by 1.2 points to 28.3 percent in February compared to the previous month. The integrated rate of time-dependent underemployment and unemployed was 19.8 percent, while the integrated rate of potential labor force and unemployed was 22.5 percent.