25 September 2002 15:55
RUSSIA: STATE SECTOR KEEPS GROWING?
Unemployment in Russia has dropped for the ninth consecutive month, but the number of new jobs created was higher in
the "stagnant state sector" than in private business, "Vedomosti" reported on 20 September.
According to the State Statistics Committee, the number of unemployed fell in August to its lowest level since April
1994. Yevgenii Gavrilenkov, chief economist at the Troika Dialog brokerage, pointed out that although labor productivity
in the state sector has not increased, the government has raised wages for state-sector workers. According to data from
June, the number of jobs in industry, construction, agriculture, and transportation declined, while jobs in the
financial, arts and culture, health-care, and trade sectors rose. However, co-Chairman of Brunswick UBS Warburg Denis
Rodionov suggested that official statistics understate the creation of new jobs among small and medium-sized
enterprises. JAC Copyright (c) 2002. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201
Connecticut Ave., N.W.Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
[AIW [Asia Africa Intelligence Wire]] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
