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Crisis up, unemployment down

No lack of jobs in Barents Russia, statistics say.

Despite sanctions and an aggravating economic crisis, unemployment in Russia appears to be on the decline.

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Figures from Russia’s State Statistical Service (Rosstat) show that unemployment in the country in September reached a record-low 4,9 percent, a decrease of 0,5 percent year-on-year and of more than one percent since early 2013.

The figures were highlighted by President Vladimir Putin during the G20 Summit in Brisbane. According to the president, Russia is allocating ”significant resources” to the fight against unemployment. ”Now we have only 4,9 percent unemployment […] which is far better than many of our partners”, Putin underlined in a press conference.

The situation is reflected also in the Russian regions, although with major fluctuations. In Murmansk Oblast, unemployment in September amounted to 6,8 percent, which is significantly down from 2013. According to figures from Patchwork Barents, unemployment in Murmansk was in 2013 was 7,2 percent.

Similarily in Arkhangelsk Oblast where total unemployment in the second quarter of 2014 amounted to 5,8 percent, down from 6 percent in 2013. In the Republic of Karelia, unemployment dropped from 8,2 percent in 2013 to 7,5 percent in September 2014 and in the Komi Republic the employment situation at the same time dropped to 7 percent from 7,1 percent in 2013.