21 Sep 2009 12:05

Russia

MOSCOW. Aug 20 (Interfax) - The Russian unemployment rate in August 2009 dropped 1.6% compared to July and totaled 6.2 million people at the end of the month, the Federal National Statistics Service (Rosstat) said on Monday.

This means the unemployment rate in Russia was at 8.1% in August.

It was reported that a quarterly survey of employment trends carried out in late May has shown that the unemployment rate went decreased in February-May 2009 compared to preliminary assessments.

The maximum number of unemployed people in Russia was registered in February 2009 - 7.1 million, following which unemployment fell for four months in row and stabilized in July.

In August 2008, the number of unemployed people was 1.7 million less (4.47 million) than in August 2009.

The level of unemployment in Russia was computed using the methodology of the International Labor Organization. Unemployed persons include all people who have actively been looking for a job using various resources (employment services, newspaper announcements, through contacts, etc.) and are available to start work within the shortest period of time (i.e., are not ill, do not have to care for children and elderly people, etc.).

State employment services registered 2.108 million of unemployed people in August 2009 (against 2.146 million in July and 1.294 million a year ago). That number included 1.8 million who were on unemployment benefits.