Number of registered unemployed in Russia down by 78,000 since beginning of 2023 - deputy PM

MOSCOW. Sept 5 (Interfax) - The number of registered unemployed people in Russia has declined by 78,000 since the beginning of 2023, which is 27% lower than the figures recorded in August 2022, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said following a meeting of the interagency working group for responding to the labor market situation.

"The number of jobless people registered with employment centers has decreased by 78,000 since the beginning of this year and currently stands at 487,000. This is 27% lower than what it was in August of last year," Golikova was quoted as saying by her office.

As many as 37,000 people, or 70% of the target, have obtained jobs as part of subsidized employment programs, Golikova's office said, citing Russian Labor Minister Anton Kotyakov.

The unemployment rate among job seekers from the 15-29 age group dropped to 6.4% in the second quarter of 2023 from 10.7% in 2020, the office said. The employment rate grew from 89.3% two years ago to 93.6% in the second quarter of 2023.