No growth in unemployment in Russia - labor minister

MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax) - The situation on the labor market can be characterized as stable, and unemployment is falling, Russian Labor and Social Protection Minister Anton Kotyakov said.

"Labor market figures have been demonstrating a definite stability in the last several months, and we're seeing not only a lack of growth in unemployment, but even a decrease in the last few months," Kotyakov said at a meeting of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy, and Veterans' Affairs on Thursday.

The decrease was recorded using both the International Labor Organization method, meaning unofficial unemployment, and registered unemployment from employment centers, he said.

"All this was achieved through a holistic approach on the part of the government to stabilize the job market," Kotyakov said.

Measures to support the labor market will be extended through 2023, he said.

All social obligations factored into the budget are fully provided for using financial means, Kotyakov said.

"All social obligations that are stipulated in the budget today are 100% provided for with finances and designated for implementation in full," he said.

According to the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), the unemployment rate fell to 3.8% in Russia in August, once again hitting a record low. Prior to that, the rate had held at 3.9% since May, a record low going back to 1991 at the time.

The unemployment rate in Russia was 4% in April, 4.1% in March and February, and 4.4% in January.

Russia counted a total of 2.855 million unemployed in August, down by 45,000 from July.