* Photograph: Feride Pelin İnal / AA
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The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) has announced the workforce statistics for 2018. According to the data shared by the institute, the number of unemployed people over the age of 15 increased by 83 thousand people in comparison with 2017. With this increase, the number of unemployed across Turkey reached 3 million 537 thousand in 2018.
As for the rate of unemployment, it increased by 0.1 point and became 11 percent. While the rate of unemployment among men increased by 0.1 point and reached 9.5 percent in 2018, the rate of unemployment among women decreased by 0.2 point and became 13.9 percent.
CLICK - Number of Unemployed Tops 4 Million
According to the figures announced by the TurkStat, the non-agricultural unemployment decreased by 0.1 point in 2018 and became 12.9 percent. While the youth (ages of 15-24) unemployment rate fell by 0.5 point and was measured as 20.3 percent, the same rate in the age group of 15-64 increased by 0.1 point and reached 11.2 percent.
Rate of employment: 47.4 percent
The number of people who were employed in 2018 increased by 549 thousand people in comparison with the previous year and reached 28 million 738 thousand people. As for the rate of employment, it increased by 0.3 point and became 47.4 percent.
While the annual rate of employment among men increased by 0.1 point and became 65.7 percent in 2018, the rate of employment among women increased by 0.5 point and reached 29.4 percent.
Number of agricultural workers on decrease
In 2018, the number of people employed in the agricultural sector decreased by 167 thousand people while the number of those working in non-agricultural sector increased by 717 thousand people.
Labor force participation rate: 53.2 percent
According to the TurkStat, labor force across Turkey increased by 631 thousand people in 2018. Measured as 53.2 percent in 2018, the rate of labor force participation marks an increase of 0.4 point when compared to the figures announced for 2017.
While the rate of labor force participation among men increased by 0.2 point and reached 72.7 percent in 2018, the rate of women also increased by 0.6 point, becoming 34.2 percent.
Highest rate of unemployment measured in Mardin, Batman, Şırnak, Siirt
While the highest rate of unemployment was measured in Turkey's eastern and southeastern provinces of Mardin, Batman, Şırnak and Siirt with 25 percent, the provinces with the lowest unemployment rate were announced as Kastamonu, Çankırı and Sinop with 5.1 percent.
As for the highest rate of employment, it was measured in Tekirdağ, Edirne and Kırklareli with 55.3 percent. The lowest rate of employment was again encountered in Mardin, Batman, Şırnak and Siirt with 30.5 percent.
The rates of labor force participation also followed a similar geographical pattern in 2018: While the highest rate of labor force participation was in Turkey's western provinces of Tekirdağ, Edirne and Kırklareli with 59.7 percent, the lowest rate was measured in Mardin, Batman, Şırnak and Siirt with 40.7 percent. (HA/SD)
