Unemployment Rate Stands at 4.5 Percent Nationwide

According to the survey, women accounted for 37.3 percent of total employment, while men made up 60.2 percent.

Unemployment at 4.5 Percent, Employment at 49.5 Percent

Besimler said total employment across the country was calculated at 183,738 people, with 8,569 unemployed, putting the unemployment rate for the first quarter at 4.5 percent. The unemployment rate was 3.4 percent among men and 6.4 percent among women.

Among the 15–24 age group, youth unemployment stood at 12.7 percent, with 7.1 percent for young men and 19.8 percent for young women.

The overall employment rate was calculated at 49.5 percent. Women accounted for 37.3 percent of those employed, while men made up the remainder.

Labour Force Participation Rate at 51.8 Percent

The labour force participation rate, a key labour market indicator, stood at 51.8 percent nationwide. The participation rate was 62.3 percent among men and 39.8 percent among women.

Employment by Sector

In the first quarter of 2025, employment was examined across four main sectors: agriculture, industry, construction and services.
Agriculture accounted for 4.1 percent of total employment, industry for 9.0 percent, construction for 8.1 percent and services for 78.8 percent. A total of 7,617 people were employed in agriculture.

Education Levels of the Employed

According to the results, 34 percent of those employed had less than a high school education or no education at all. High school graduates accounted for 29 percent, vocational and technical high school graduates for 4 percent, two- or three-year college graduates for 3 percent, and four-year faculty or college graduates for 26 percent. Meanwhile, 1 percent held degrees from five- or six-year faculties and 3 percent had master’s or doctoral degrees.

Population Outside the Labour Force

Among the non-institutional working-age population, 48.2 percent—179,085 people—were outside the labour force. Students made up the largest share at 31.4 percent, followed by retirees at 24.9 percent, homemakers at 24.6 percent and those unable to work at 8.1 percent.

Underutilised Labour Force at 6.1 Percent

The “underutilised labour force,” consisting of time-related underemployment, potential labour force and the unemployed, was measured at 6.1 percent in the first quarter of 2025.

The combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment was 5.2 percent, while the combined rate of unemployment and the potential labour force was estimated at 5.3 percent.