News

Russian Unemployment Rate Falls to Record Low
The unemployment rate in Russia fell to 2.1% in February of 2026 from 2.2% in the previous month, tying for the lowest rate on record. The result was maintained the tightening labor market trend in Russia since the pandemic shock in 2020. The war in Ukraine and the Kremlin's mobilization of working-aged men resulted in an exodus of labor force candidates.
Published on 2026-04-01

Russia Jobless Rate Below Forecasts
Russia’s unemployment rate remained steady at 2.2% in January, unchanged from December and below market expectations of 2.3%. The persistently low unemployment highlights a widespread labor shortage, exacerbated since Moscow deployed its military to Ukraine in February 2022. The number of unemployed rose slightly to 1.66 million from 1.643 million in December. Authorities project that the labor market will stay tight for years, forecasting a shortfall of 3.1 million workers by 2030.
Published on 2026-03-04

Russia Jobless Rate Holds Near Record Low
Russia’s unemployment rate ticked up to 2.2% in December 2025 from 2.1% in the previous month, in line with market expectations. Despite the slight increase, unemployment remains near record-low levels, underscoring persistent labor shortages across the economy since the deployment of military forces in February 2022. The number of unemployed rose modestly to 1.643 million from 1.636 million in November, while the overall labor force was unchanged at 76.3 million. Employment stood at 74.7 million, leaving the employment rate steady at 61.7%. Meanwhile, the number of officially registered unemployed remained broadly stable at around 0.3 million. Looking ahead, Russian authorities expect labor market pressures to intensify, with the country facing an estimated shortfall of roughly 3.1 million workers by 2030.
Published on 2026-02-06

Russia Unemployment Rate Remains Near Record Low
Russia’s unemployment rate ticked up to 2.2% in December 2025 from 2.1% in the previous month, in line with market expectations. Despite the slight increase, unemployment remains near record-low levels, underscoring persistent labor shortages across the economy since the deployment of military forces in February 2022. The number of unemployed rose modestly to 1.643 million from 1.636 million in November, while the overall labor force was unchanged at 76.3 million. Employment stood at 74.7 million, leaving the employment rate steady at 61.7%. Meanwhile, the number of officially registered unemployed remained broadly stable at around 0.3 million. Looking ahead, Russian authorities expect labor market pressures to intensify, with the country facing an estimated shortfall of roughly 3.1 million workers by 2030.
Published on 2026-02-06

Russia Jobless Rate Remains Near Record Low
Russia’s unemployment rate ticked up to 2.2% in December 2025 from 2.1% in the previous month, in line with market expectations. Despite the slight increase, unemployment remains near record-low levels, underscoring persistent labor shortages across the economy since the deployment of military forces in February 2022. The number of unemployed rose modestly to 1.643 million from 1.636 million in November, while the overall labor force was unchanged at 76.3 million. Employment stood at 74.7 million, leaving the employment rate steady at 61.7%. Meanwhile, the number of officially registered unemployed remained broadly stable at around 0.3 million. Looking ahead, Russian authorities expect labor market pressures to intensify, with the country facing an estimated shortfall of roughly 3.1 million workers by 2030.
Published on 2026-02-06

Russia Jobless Rate Remains Near Record Low
Russia’s unemployment rate ticked up to 2.2% in December 2025 from 2.1% in the previous month, in line with market expectations. Despite the slight increase, unemployment remains near record-low levels, underscoring persistent labor shortages across the economy since the deployment of military forces in February 2022. The number of unemployed rose modestly to 1.643 million from 1.636 million in November, while the overall labor force was unchanged at 76.3 million. Employment stood at 74.7 million, leaving the employment rate steady at 61.7%. Meanwhile, the number of officially registered unemployed remained broadly stable at around 0.3 million. Looking ahead, Russian authorities expect labor market pressures to intensify, with the country facing an estimated shortfall of roughly 3.1 million workers by 2030.
Published on 2026-02-06

Russia Jobless Rate Holds Near Record Low
Russia’s unemployment rate ticked up to 2.2% in December 2025 from 2.1% in the previous month, in line with market expectations. Despite the slight increase, unemployment remains near record-low levels, underscoring persistent labor shortages across the economy since the deployment of military forces in February 2022. The number of unemployed rose modestly to 1.643 million from 1.636 million in November, while the overall labor force was unchanged at 76.3 million. Employment stood at 74.7 million, leaving the employment rate steady at 61.7%. Meanwhile, the number of officially registered unemployed remained broadly stable at around 0.3 million. Looking ahead, Russian authorities expect labor market pressures to intensify, with the country facing an estimated shortfall of roughly 3.1 million workers by 2030.
Published on 2026-02-06

Russia Jobless Rate Remains Near Record Low
Russia’s unemployment rate ticked up to 2.2% in December 2025 from 2.1% in the previous month, in line with market expectations. Despite the slight increase, unemployment remains near record-low levels, underscoring persistent labor shortages across the economy since the deployment of military forces in February 2022. The number of unemployed rose modestly to 1.643 million from 1.636 million in November, while the overall labor force was unchanged at 76.3 million. Employment stood at 74.7 million, leaving the employment rate steady at 61.7%. Meanwhile, the number of officially registered unemployed remained broadly stable at around 0.3 million. Looking ahead, Russian authorities expect labor market pressures to intensify, with the country facing an estimated shortfall of roughly 3.1 million workers by 2030.
Published on 2026-02-06

Russia Unemployment Rate Falls to New Record Low
Russia’s unemployment rate fell to a record low of 2.1% in November 2025, slightly below analysts’ expectations of 2.2%, continuing a trend of historically low joblessness. The total number of unemployed declined to 1.636 million from 1.657 million in October and was well below 1.797 million a year earlier. Officially registered unemployment edged up slightly to 0.352 million from 0.351 million. The tight labor market reflects a widespread shortage affecting all sectors, exacerbated by military recruitment and defense industry hiring following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as well as emigration. Authorities project the labor shortfall could widen further in coming years, potentially reaching 2.5–5 million workers, posing challenges for economic growth and workforce availability across civilian industries.
Published on 2025-12-26

Russia Unemployment Falls to New Record Low
Russia’s unemployment rate fell to a record low of 2.1% in November 2025, slightly below analysts’ expectations of 2.2%, continuing a trend of historically low joblessness. The total number of unemployed declined to 1.636 million from 1.657 million in October and was well below 1.797 million a year earlier. Officially registered unemployment edged up slightly to 0.352 million from 0.351 million. The tight labor market reflects a widespread shortage affecting all sectors, exacerbated by military recruitment and defense industry hiring following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as well as emigration. Authorities project the labor shortfall could widen further in coming years, potentially reaching 2.5–5 million workers, posing challenges for economic growth and workforce availability across civilian industries.
Published on 2025-12-26

Russia Unemployment Rate Holds Near Record Low
The unemployment rate in Russia was unchanged from the previous month at 2.2% in October of 2025, aligned with market expectations. The rate remained close to the record low of 2.1% from August, in line with statements from the Central Bank of Russia, which have long flagged shortages in the labor market due to the Russian military mobilization and resulting exodus of working-aged individuals.
Published on 2025-12-03

Russia Jobless Rate Hits Fresh Low of 2.1%
Russia’s unemployment rate fell to a new record low of 2.1% in August 2025, down from 2.2% previously, while analysts had expected it to remain steady at 2.2%. Unemployment has been falling since 2021, driven mainly by workforce shortages amid the Russian military mobilization to Ukraine and constrained economic capacity. The number of unemployed people decreased to 1.592 million in August, from 1.650 million the month before, and was below 1.841 million a year ago.
Published on 2025-10-01

Russia Jobless Rate Hits Fresh Low of 2.1%
Russia’s unemployment rate fell to a new record low of 2.1% in August 2025, down from 2.2% previously, while analysts had expected it to remain steady at 2.2%. Since 2021, unemployment has trended downward, reflecting labor shortages resulting from the prolonged war in Ukraine and limited economic capacity. The number of unemployed people decreased to 1.592 million in August, from 1.650 million the month before, and was below 1.841 million a year ago. Meanwhile, the number of officially registered unemployed ticked up to 0.337 million in August from 0.374 million in July but remained below last year's 0.423 million.
Published on 2025-10-01

Russia Unemployment Rate Remains at Lowest on Record
The unemployment rate in Russia was unchanged from the second consecutive month at 2.2% in July of 2025, the lowest on record, and matching market expectations. The result was in line with statements from the Central Bank of Russia, flagging shortages in the labor force due to the Russian military mobilization and the reduced capacity of the Russian economy.
Published on 2025-08-27

Russia Unemployment Rate Holds at Record Low
The unemployment rate in Russia was unchanged from the previous month at 2.2% in June of 2025, the lowest on record, and below market expectations that it would have increased to 2.3%. The result was in line with statements from the Central Bank of Russia, flagging shortages in the labor force due to the Russian military mobilization and the reduced the capacity of the Russian economy.
Published on 2025-07-30

Russia Unemployment Falls to New Record Low
Russia’s unemployment rate fell to 2.2% in May of 2025 from 2.3% in the prior month, below market forecasts of 2.3% to record a new record low. The result was in line with statements from the Central Bank of Russia, flagging shortages in the labor force due to the Russian military mobilization and the reduced the capacity of the Russian economy.
Published on 2025-07-02

Russia Jobless Rate Steady at Record Low of 2.3%
The unemployment rate in Russia stood at a record low of 2.3% in April 2025, unchanged from March, down slightly from the forecast of 2.4%, as a result of an acute labour shortage caused by the war in Ukraine. The continued mobilization of military reserves since 2022, along with emigration, has led to a large outflow of working-age people, mostly men, from the labor market. The number of unemployed individuals fell to 1.709 million in April from 1.730 million in the month before. Meanwhile, the number of officially registered unemployed ticked down to 0.336 million from 0.337 million. The central bank cites labor shortages as a key factor compelling it to maintain a tight monetary policy.
Published on 2025-06-04

Russia Unemployment Falls to Record Low
The unemployment rate in Russia fell to 2.3% in March of 2025 from 2.4% in the previous month, below market expectations of 2.4%, to return to the record-low from the end of last year. The result was in line with the analysis from the Central Bank of Russia, stating that the mobilization of Russian citizens to join the military and fight in Ukraine exacerbated labor shortages and reduced capacity in the Russian economy. The unemployment rate fell with drops in the official registered number of unemployed individuals (337K vs 349K in February) and the total number of unemployed individuals (1,730K vs 1,786K).
Published on 2025-04-30

Russia Unemployment Unchanged at 2.4%, Above Forecast
Russia's unemployment rate remained steady at 2.4% in February 2025, slightly above market expectations of 2.3%. The number of unemployed individuals stood at 1.786 million, nearly unchanged from January’s 1.808 million. Meanwhile, the number of officially registered unemployed rose to 0.349 million from 0.341 million. Labour shortages continue to impact various sectors, driven by military recruitment, increased defense industry hiring, and emigration since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The central bank considers these shortages a key factor in its decision to maintain high interest rates to curb inflation. In comparison, the unemployment rate was higher at 2.8% a year earlier.
Published on 2025-04-02

Russia Jobless Rate Holds at Record Low
Russia’s unemployment rate stood at 2.3% in December 2024, maintaining the record low from the previous month. The number of unemployed people fell to 1.788 million from 1.797 million. A growing labor shortage has affected all sectors since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Extensive recruitment by the armed forces and defense industries, along with emigration, has drawn workers away from civilian enterprises, pushing unemployment to a record low. Meanwhile, the central bank cites labor shortages as a key factor compelling it to maintain a tight monetary policy by keeping interest rates high.
Published on 2025-02-07