24 January 2003 16:39
Russia: Unemployment down in 2002 - statistics report
Moscow, 24 January: The total number of unemployed workers in Russia at the end of December 2002, stood at 5,145,000,
down 16.9 per cent from last year.
The Russian State Statistics Committee today reported that in December the jobless rate inched up 0.1 per cent or
3,000 people.
General unemployment has been steadily decreasing month by month, except in December. In January it went down 1.8 per
cent, in February 1.9 per cent, in March 2.4 per cent, in April 2.5 per cent, in May 2.6 per cent, in June 2 per cent,
in July 2 per cent, in August 2.1 per cent, in September 0.8 per cent, in October 0.3 per cent and in November 0.1 per
cent.
The number of unemployed Russians was calculated according to ILO [International Labour Organization] standards that
regard as jobless all persons not having jobs, actively seeking them through all possible means (through employment
agencies, newspaper ads, friends) and ready and able to work immediately (are not sick and do not have to look after
children or old people).
The unemployment rate at the end of December was estimated at 7.1 per cent of the economically active population (sum
total of employed and unemployed), which amounted to 72.5m or some 50 per cent of the overall population.
The state employment service registered 1.309m as officially jobless, down from 1,123,000 in December 2002. In
December, their number grew 4.8 per cent and, during 2002, 16.6 per cent on the whole.
Registered unemployment stands at 1.8 per cent of the economically active population.
In December, Russia registered eight strikes lasting for more than one shift (one day), up from six in December 2001.
The total amount of people taking part in strikes was registered at 990 (up from 200 in December, 2001) and combined
losses of working time grew to 9,800 man-days, up from 1,000.
[Interfax news agency] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
