Turkey's unemployment rate increases 0.2 pct in Q1

The country’s urban areas recorded a rate of 13.4 percent unemployment, with rural areas recording 8.5 percent, according to the announcement on TUIK's official website.Â

 

The number unemployment of increased by 55,000 people to reach 2,642,000, TUIK said drawing on the results of a survey based on interviews with 86,200 respondents.    Â

 

The unemployment rate was estimated at 9.9 percent for the whole of 2007, unchanged from the rate for 2006. Â

 

The period saw 45.9 percent labor force participation, 0.4 points lower than the same period of the previous year.

 

TUIK determined the rate, by surveying households in different regions of the country and using the results to make a nationwide three-month projection.

High unemployment and huge unregistered activity remain a major challenge for the Turkey despite several years of strong growth in the wake of two severe financial crises in 1999 and 2001.

The figures provide the only unemployment data in Turkey, but experts say they do not reflect the overall picture because they exclude undeclared or hidden unemployment, or the employment of educated, qualified people in menial, unqualified jobs, AFP reported. Â