Russia's official unemployment rate has risen 15 percent since the start of the year as the country's economic downturn takes its toll on the labor market, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Thursday.
According to data from the Labor Ministry, the number of unemployed Russians rose from 873,000 people in January to 935,000 people by the end of September.
The highest unemployment rate since the start of the year was recorded in late March, when the number of unemployed people exceeded 1 million.
However, the current official unemployment rate is half that seen during the economic crisis of 2008-09, said Maxim Parshin, deputy head of the Federal Labor and Employment Service.
In addition, the number of vacancies available to be filled by the employment services has almost halved, he said.
Parshin said instability on the jobs market was also reflected in the fact that part-time employment in Russia had risen by 40 percent since the beginning of the year.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
