Unemployment Dropping, but Trade Unionists Say It Is Seasonal

According to data published by the Turkey Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the number of unemployed in Turkey in May was 3 million 382 thousand. This represents a 4.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year, but a continuation of the previous month's drop in unemployment since last year's ongoing rise.

Reason is seasonal work

While the Confederation of Trade Unions of Revolutionary Workers (DİSK) has evaluated this development as positive, it warns that problems are continuing.

"This is a decrease relative to the peak of the official unemployment figures. However, it does not show that employment has increased or that unemployment has been addressed because seasonal employment in the summer creates a relative reduction in figures. In the summer 2009, there has been an increase in employment, too, if but a little one. It has been a small increase because the peaks of unemployment in December 2008 and April 2009 were so high."

The trade union confederation has called for a comprehensive "social programme."

"Social cost will be high"

It added its own observations about the current economic situation:

* The real number of unemployed in May 2009 was 5 million 375 thousand, while the real number a year earlier was 4 million 61 thousand. This means there has been an increase of 1 million 314 thousand unemployed people within twelve months.

* There has never been a time in the country before when so many people were left unemployed for so long. The social cost of such long unemployment will be very high.

* Each year 850 thousand people (71 thousand people a month) are added to the labour market, an issue that needs to be dealt with.

TÜİK statistics

TÜİK compares last year's and this year's data, concluding that:

* The employment rate has dropped to 41.6, with 387 thousand fewer people employed, resulting in 21 million 455 people being employed. Unemployment stands at 13.6 percent.

* There has been an increase of 875 thousand people who are in the age group that can work.

* Unemployment among the young has risen to 24.9 percent, meaning that every fourth young person is unemployed.

* Urban unemployment has risen by 5.4 percent to 16.5 percent, while rural unemployment has risen by 2.5 percent to 7.8 percent.

* There has been an increase of agricultural workers by 69 thousand people, but a decrease of 455 thousand people in non-agricultural sectors.

* The number of people who work without social security has risen by 0.6 percent to 44.6 percent.

* Of those who found employment in May, 25.3 percent entered the agricultural sector, 18.6 percent the industrial sector, 6 percent the construction sector, and 50.1 percent the service industry.

* Of those employed, 59.9 percent receive a wage or salary, 26.5 percent are self-employed or employers, and 13.6 percent are unpaid family workers. 3.4 percent seek additional work.

Economist Mustafa Sönmez has previously criticised in bianet that TÜİK only counts those who are still actively seeking work among the unemployed, thus decreasing the real number of unemployed individuals. If they are added, the real number of unemployed is estimated to stand at around 4 million 979 thousand. (GK/EÜ/AG)