Unemployment rate reaches 9.9 percent in Turkey

ANKARA

The number of unemployed persons increased by 292,000 persons in September 2013 and reached 2.8 million persons in Turkey, figures revealed by the state-run statistic body TÜİK yesterday showed. The unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent with a 0.8 percent increase as non-agricultural unemployment rate reached 12.3 percent with a 0.7 percent increase and youth unemployment rose to 19.4 percent, representing a 1.4 percent increase in the same period.

However, CHP Kocaeli deputy, Hurşit Güneş said the unemployment rate, which is near the 10 percent mark, had not fallen since 2003, the year the ruling party AKP came to the power. 

‘Hopeless group’ effect

“These figures are not healthy. Population growth, which comprises of those who may not actively seek employment are ready to work when they come across employment, was 0.3 percent (in 2003), with this ‘hopeless’ group accounting for 7 percent of total employment today,” he said in a written statement. 

Together with the “hopeless group”, unemployment totaled 10.8 percent in 2003 he said. As members of the “hopeless group” increase to 7.1 percent, real unemployment surpasses 17 percent, Güneş noted.