The unemployment rate was announced to be 9.8 percent in July, increasing from 9.6 percent in June, according to Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) data released on Thursday.

The number of unemployed over the age of 15 increased from 2.88 million to 2.97 million in the same period and increased by 103,000 compared to the same month of the previous year. In the 12-month period the unemployment rate increased 0.5 percent. Nonagricultural unemployment was 12 percent with an increase of 0.3 percent since July 2014.

Youth unemployment, covering those aged 15 to 24, increased 0.1 percent and reached 18.3 percent. The number of employed over the age of 15 increased by 932,000 in the 12-month period and reached 27.342 million. The employment rate increased 0.9 percent and reached 47.2 percent.

Unemployment in Turkey is still under the average unemployment of the 19 member eurozone. According to data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, the eurozone's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 10.9 percent in July, down from 11.1 percent in June.

Among member states, the lowest unemployment rates in July were recorded in Germany at 4.7 percent and the Czech Republic and Malta both at 5.1 percent, and the highest was Spain at 22.2 percent in July and Greece with 25 percent in May.