Long-Term Youth Unemployment: Evidence from Turkish Household Labour Force Survey

Abstract

Long-term unemployment has been discussed in academic studies as a cause for both scarring effect on young people and their future. In this context, examining differences between long-term unemployed youth and adults requires a perspective that consolidates an analysis of demographic and work-related factors; however, there are a limited number of systematic works distinguishing long-term unemployment between youth and adults. To address this gap, this study aims to present a logistic regression analysis that examines the differences between youth and adults in the relationship between long-term unemployment and demographic and work-related variables, by using the micro-data from 2016 Turkish Household Labour Force Survey. The results of the study reveal that the lack of qualifications and work experience and the desire to work in full-time jobs and in semi-skill occupations, as well as the inter-regional disparities in terms of economic development, are the main driving factors that increase the likelihood of young people becoming long-term unemployed. Also, a university or postgraduate degree does not guarantee young people protection against long-term unemployment.