Ayhan Barut, a representative of the Republican People's Party (CHP), has sharply criticized the government's economic policies, stating that Turkey's younger generation is trapped in a 'neither education nor employment' deadlock, placing the country's future under serious threat.
The 'NEET' Youth Crisis; 6.8 Million People Out of the Cycle Ayhan Barut, the Adana representative from the Republican People's Party (CHP), highlighted the dire situation of the younger generation in a sharp statement that was widely reflected in the Turkish media. He emphasized that today, there is no suitable place for Turkish youth 'either in the education system or in the labor market' [1]. These remarks come as recent statistics show that approximately 6.8 million young people between the ages of 15 and 34 fall into the 'NEET' category; meaning individuals who are not in education, not undergoing vocational training, and not present in the labor market [2].
Barut believes that this situation is a direct result of flawed policies that have destroyed equal opportunities and marginalized the youth. He noted that many young people have even stopped searching for work due to the despair of finding a job that matches their education.
Deep Gap Between Official Statistics and Social Reality One of the main pillars of Barut's criticism is the massive difference between the statistics announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) and the tangible realities on the streets. While official statistics show the unemployment rate in the single-digit range (around 8.2%), broad unemployment indicators, which include individuals who have given up searching for work, have crossed the 30% threshold [3].
This 'invisible army of the unemployed' that Barut refers to mainly consists of university graduates who, after years of academic effort, are now facing closed doors. According to the Member of Parliament, ignoring these individuals in official statistics is merely erasing the problem and does nothing to heal the livelihood crisis of the youth.
Gender Discrimination and Brain Drain The situation is significantly more difficult for young women. Economic reports from May 2026 show that the rate of young women who are outside the cycle of education and employment has reached approximately 40% [2]. Pointing to this gender gap, Barut warned that half of the country's human potential is being wasted.
The direct consequence of this despair is an increased desire for migration, or 'brain drain.' In his speech, Barut emphasized that when young people see no way for progress in their homeland, they use all their power to leave the country. He called on the government to take practical steps to reform the structure of the education system and create job security instead of presenting showy statistics, in order to prevent the exit of human capital [1][3].
Ayhan Barut, a representative of the CHP, warned about the exclusion of youth from the labor market and the education system.
linkSources
- CHP’li Barut: Gençlere Ne Eğitimde Ne İstihdamda Yer Var — Habere Güven (2026-06-14)
- Over 6 million young people in Turkey are neither studying nor working — Duvar English (2026-05-20)
- The invisible army of the unemployed does not feature in TÜİK data — BirGün Daily (2026-06-05)
