Turkey’s unemployment rate rose to 8.1% in January 2026, up from 7.8% in December 2025, according to data updated on 27 February 2026. The increase marks a reversal of the previous month’s improvement, when the rate had fallen to 7.8%.
On a month-over-month basis, the latest reading shows a deterioration in labor market conditions compared to December, when unemployment had been on a downward trajectory versus the prior month. The January uptick suggests emerging pressure in the jobs market after recent gains, with the new figure now standing 0.3 percentage points higher than the previous month.
The data, measured on a month-over-month comparison, highlights a shift in short-term momentum: while December’s “previous” figure reflected an improving environment relative to the month before it, the “actual” January reading indicates a modest but notable weakening as Turkey entered 2026.
