The Unemployment Rate in Russia Exceeded Worst Forecasts

VLADIVOSTOK. February 20. VOSTOK-MEDIA – The unemployment rate in the Russian Federation exceeded the worst predictions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) global unemployment rate in the year 2009. According to the data published by the Federal State Statistics Service the overall number of unemployed in Russia in January 2009 increased 300,000 to 6.1 million persons. But officially there were only 1.7 million unemployed by the end of January. The unemployment rate in Russia amounted 8.8 %.
On the other hand Russia is not in the bottom. According to International Labour Organization the overall unemployment level in Central and Southeast Europe (not members of the European Union) and CIS accounted for 8.8 %, and according to ILO this is one of the most distressing in terms of employment regions of the world.
At the same time there was sharp increase of arrears of wages. Though, January is always a difficult time for business. Last year the arrears of wages were also increased but in February the situation recovered.