The unemployment rate dropped 2.1 points to 9.9 percent in April 2011 when compared to April 2010.
Thus, unemployment rate decreased to single-digit for the first time since July, 2008, stated TurkStat on Friday.

Unemployment rate was 12 percent in April, 2010.

The number of unemployed people was 2.6 million, while employed number was 23.9 million in April 2011.

The number of unemployed people was 3.071 million, while employed number was 22.5 million in April 2010.

Non-agricultural employment rate was 12.5 percent, while unemployment rate in young population was calculated as 17.9 percent in April 2011.

While non-institutional population increased 944,000 and reached 72.1 million, non-institutional working age population increased 982,000 and reached 53.3 million in April 2011.

Labour force participation rate (LFPR) was 49.9 percent in April 2011.

LFPR realized as 49.9 percent with a 1.1 point rise compared to the same period of 2010.

LFPR was realized as 71.6 percent with 0.8 point rise for male and as 28.9 percent with 1.2 point rise for female in April 2011 when compared to April 2010.

As for the distribution of labour force by education and age group; 16.5 percent of the total labour force was comprised of persons within the 15-24 age group.

LFPR of persons having education below high school was 69.8 percent for male while it was 25.3 percent for female. LFPR of persons with higher education was 85.2 percent for male, while it was 71.3 percent for female.

Of those who were employed in April 2011; 25.2 percent was employed in agriculture, 20.2 percent was employed in industry, 6.7 percent was employed in construction and 47.9 percent was employed in services.

Employment in agriculture increased 0.2 point, industry increased 0.7 point and construction increased 0.4 point while that of services decreased 1.4 point .

The ratio of persons who worked without any social security declined 1.2 point to 42.1 percent. The share of persons, who did not have any social security in agriculture, decreased from 85.1 percent to 82.6 percent and that in non-agriculture decreased from 29.4 percent to 28.5 in April 2011 when compared to April 2010.

Number of unemployed persons decreased 434,000 to 2.6 million in April 2011 when compared to April 2010. Unemployment rate was 9.9 percent with 2.1 point decrease.

Unemployment rate was 11.9 percent with 2.3 point decrease in urban areas and reached 6.1 percent with 1.5 point decrease in rural areas.

AA