The unemployment rate hit a four-year high in December 2014 again following November's data, while the number of employed persons increased at the same time. According to data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the unemployment rate increased to 10.9 percent from 10.7 percent the previous month. Those unemployed aged 15 and over are almost 3.14 million, while those in employment total 25.64 million, which is 44.7 percent.

While the unemployment rate has increased, the number of employed people has risen. Turkey has grown an average of 3 percent in the last three years, however, the non-farm payroll data in the same time period was up by around 5 percent.

Seasonally-adjusted employment numbers increased by 100,000 people and reached 26.2 million people in January compared to the previous period. The seasonally-adjusted employment rate was 45.7 percent, increasing by 0.2 percentage points. In December 2014, the number of seasonally-adjusted unemployed persons decreased by 58,000. The unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points from 10.4 percent.

The unemployment rate was 10.2 percent for males and 12.6 percent for females. In the same period, the non-agricultural unemployment rate was 12.9 percent. The youth unemployment rate, including the 15-to-24 age group, was 20.2 percent and the unemployment rate for the 15 to 64 age group was 11.2 percent.

The employment rates stood at 63.6 percent for males and 26.2 percent for females in December 2014. Agricultural employment was announced as 19.5 percent, with a five million labor force. The services sector labor force made up 52.8 percent of employment, followed by 20.5 percent from industries and 7.1 in construction.

The labour force participation rate was announced as 50.2 percent with 28.7 million people, with respective rates of 70.8 for males and 30 percent for females.

The unemployment rate rose in December, but seasonally-adjusted employment also increased by 100,000, reaching 26.20 million compared to the previous period.