Disabled shoulder large segment of labor force

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

A physically impaired employee works for a call center from home. Some 22.5 percent of Turkey’s workforce struggles with a physical impairment such as problems walking and stepping, according to a recent official report. Hürriyet photo

A little over 36 percent of Turkey’s workforce over the age of 15 either have a chronic illness. Some 22.5 percent struggle with a physical impairment that impacts their workforce participation, according to data released by Turkey’s Statistical Institute (TÜİK) yesterday.

TÜİK prepared a 3-month survey for the April, May and June 2011 period. This was the first such study prepared by TÜİK as part of the Turkish government’s efforts to conform to European Union directives.
The study found that 19.6 million people over the age of 15 suffer from a chronic illness or health condition, 12.1 million have a physical impairment and 11.2 million of those surveyed have either one or the other. The survey found 32.9 million people do not have any health problems or impediments to work.

Cardiovascular problems
Of the 36 percent with a chronic health condition, 57 percent were women and 72.6 percent were over age 40. Only 40 percent of this group was employed. Heart, blood pressure or circulation problems, the most prevalent health conditions, were reported by 26.8 percent. Back and neck problems followed at 14.5 percent.

Similarly, of the 22.5 percent that suffer from a physical impairment, 59 percent were women and 78 percent were over the age of 78. Only 34.8 percent of these people were currently employed in the workforce. The most common issue among this group, at 51 percent, were problems with walking. Of those surveyed, 12.5 percent struggled with lifting or carrying objects.

Interestingly, the data finds that while the total jobless rate for the second half of 2011 was 9.4 percent, the unemployment rate among those with a chronic illness was 8.1 percent and 7.6 percent for those with a physical impairment.