UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT
Seyfettin Gürsel, Mehmet Cem Şahin
Seasonally adjusted labor market data shows that, in the period of July 2019, non-agricultural unemployment rate turned out to be 16.7 percent, with a remarkable increase compared to June 2019. In this period, non-agricultural employment decreased by 65 thousand and non-agricultural labor force increased by 54 thousand. According to sectorial data, the only sector showing increase in employment is agriculture, and the sector showing the most significant decrease in employment is construction. After reversal of the decreasing trend in June 2019, construction employment decreased by 34 thousand. Manufacturing and services sectors had a net employment loss of 16 thousand and 15 thousands, respectively. Based on the seasonally adjusted data, male employment had a net loss in employment for the 11th consecutive period and female employment decreased slightly by 5 thousand. Apparently, the decreases in male employment is affected by the losses in construction employment.