Worrying shrinkage in October employment

Worries are growing over the course of the local labor market, as salaried employment fell by a considerable 82,810 jobs last month, hitting a 15-year low. And this during a period when six out of the every 10 jobs created belong to the flexible-labor categories.

According to the Labor Ministry's Ergani database, the balance between hirings and departures in the first 10 months of the year remained positive, with a total of 162,795 more jobs, which is the best performance recorded since 2001. However the steep decline seen in October, along with the ever growing trend in favor of part-time and other forms of flexible labor are generating concern at the ministry.

Ergani data showed that hirings amounted to 185,895 last month, while departures numbered 268,705, of which 78,337 were voluntary and 190,368 concerned contract terminations. This represents a considerable...