THE RISE IN THE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION AND THE DECLINE IN EMPLOYMENT OF MALES ARE THE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND THE INCREASE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Seyfettin Gürsel, Gökçe Uysal-Kolaşin and Mehmet Alper Dinçer

Unemployment is sharply increasing due to the global economic crisis and due to the macroeconomic conditions in Turkey. Higher female labor force participation is an important factor behind the sharp increase in the number of unemployed. However, labor market figures also show that some of the women who enter the labor market are successful in finding jobs. Between December 2007 and December 2008, female labor force and employment have risen by 500 and 250 thousand, respectively. On the other hand, male labor force has increased by 528 thousand, whereas male employment has decreased by 160 thousand.

Employment for females is increasing irrespective of their education level, implying that the upward trend in the female labor force participation is not the sole determinant of rising unemployment. Employment of males with a high school degree or less is declining dramatically. The decreasing employment and increasing unemployment of males with low educational levels is striking.

doc. ResearchBrief031

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