Youth Unemployment in Turkey
Youth joblessness is an issue affecting countries worldwide and Turkey is no exception. The
Turkish Statistical Institute consistent with the International Labour Office (ILO), defined
youth unemployment as individuals 15 and over who were unemployed during the reference
period, who have used at least one channel for seeking a job during the last four weeks and
who were available to start work within two weeks (Bayırbağ et al., 2018). In this essay, we
will explore the reasons behind the rise in unemployment rates, its consequences and how
they relate to Emile Durkheim's sociological theory.
Firstly, we will explore the demographic factors affecting youth unemployment rates. One key
factor contributing to youth unemployment in Turkey is the influx of Syrian refugees since
2011. Because of the civil war, 5.1 million Syrians fled their nation and became refugees,
leaving 8 million internally displaced. Turkey became the world's greatest refugee-hosting
nation after three million Syrian refugees arrived there (Esen & Binatlı, 2017). In 2019, there
were about 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey which is equivalent to 4.2% of the Turkish
population (Serttaş & Uluöz, 2021). The humanitarian response to the crisis is
commendable, but there has been a significant impact on the labour market, especially for
the younger population. The "Syrian Barometer 2019" revealed data from the Presidency of
Migration Management (PMM) in 2020, showing that 46% of Syrian refugees were women
and 47% were men, with the majority of their youth falling between 19 and 29 (Erdogan,
2020). The youth unemployment rate reached a high of 24.8% in 2019 after being reported
to be 16.39% in 2011. There has been an 8.41% increase in comparing rates between years
showing clearly how the Syrian refugee population contributes to youth unemployment.
Emile Durkheim’s concept of anomie, which refers to a breakdown of social norms and
integration is particularly relevant in this case. From Durkheim’s perspective, this
demographic strain produces an environment where the established norms and mechanisms
of social integration find it difficult to deal with the flood of young Syrian refugees in the
labour market. Thus leading individuals, particularly the youth, to feel a sense of
disintegration.
Secondly, we will examine how the education system contributes to youth unemployment in
Turkey. The growing rates of youth unemployment are partly caused by the Turkish
education system. There's a disparity between the abilities that employers require and what
students learn in school. A 2010 ILO report stated that the ability of the young labour force
does not abide by the credentials sought by the labour market. This discrepancy is
frequently brought about by the labour markets' incompatibility with educational policy.
However, the lack of experience among youth also makes things tough in job searches and
leads to discrimination by employers (Koç et al., 2017). Numerous investigations were
conducted to assess the connection between youth unemployment and the educational
system. Based on data gathered from the Household Labour Force Data Base, young adults
with higher education degrees had the greatest unemployment rate (28% in 2015), whereas
lower education levels were associated with lower unemployment rates (Koç et al., 2017). A
prime example of this situation is Ozan, a 23-year-old logistics bachelor's degree graduate
who has difficulty finding employment “I am always applying. Sometimes I was called to
interviews. But I never get anything,” he said. “They want experience but you need to start
work somewhere to get that”. The inability of high levels of education to positively impact the
unemployment rate can be construed as an indication that Turkey's educational system is
not up to date with the demands of the labour market (Koç et al., 2017). Here, Durkheim's
focus on the role that education plays in creating organic solidarity is pertinent because it
emphasises the necessity of an educational system that is in step with the changing needs
of the labour market.
Finally, we will explore the economic factors that have contributed to the rise in youth
unemployment rates. The recession of 2018–2019 was one of the major economic causes
that led to the decline in youth employment. The recession, according to the ILO, destroyed
700,000 jobs. Young people were disproportionately impacted by these losses, as seen by
increases in their NEET rate (21.9 to 23.5%, 2018–2019) and unemployment rate (20.3 to
25.4%, 2018–2019). Turkey's economy was starting to recover when the COVID-19
epidemic struck, causing the NEET rate to rise to 27.1% in November 2020. The “Youth and
COVID-19: Access to Decent Jobs Amid the Pandemic” stated that 77% of youth reported
that COVID-19 negatively impacted their job search. This predicament aligns with
Durkheim's theory of mechanical solidarity breaking down amid economic instability, leading
to increased social disintegration.
In conclusion, demographics, educational system, and economy all play a role in Turkey's
complicated youth unemployment problem. This issue affects the youths’ sociological
development and their financial stability. Emile Durkheim's sociological theory, which
emphasises the value of social integration and the effects of social disintegration, provides
relevant information about the dynamics of youth unemployment. A strategy that considers
economic measures alongside social and educational improvements is required to address
this issue and foster a more united community.
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