Employment Rate in Russia decreased to 61.90 percent in August from 62 percent in July of 2025. This dataset provides - Russia Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024, the unemployment rate in Russia was measured at approximately 2.53 percent, down from 3.08 percent in the previous year. That was the lowest figure over the observed period.Unemployment An unemployed person is defined as someone who is out of work and usually looking for work actively. Unemployment in a country is measured using the unemployment rate, which is an index calculated by dividing the number of workers out of work by the total workforce of a country, and then multiplying that figure by 100. The labor force is made up of the people who are old enough and physically fit enough to work. The unemployment rate is an important economic factor, but economists do not always agree on what exactly causes unemployment. They do agree, however, that unemployment typically rises during bad times for the economy, i.e., recessions. As for other important economic factors, Russia’s inflation rate has been decreasing for a few years now, while its real (inflation-adjusted) gross domestic product is still recovering from a steep decline in 2009. As most other economies, Russia’s economy focuses mostly on the Services and Industry sector, while the Agriculture sector plays little to no role when it comes to gross domestic product generation. Consequently, the vast majority of the labor force works in those two sectors. However, Russia is the leading wheat exporter worldwide, followed by the United States and Canada.

Unemployment Rate in Russia increased to 2.20 percent in September from 2.10 percent in August of 2025. This dataset provides - Russia Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In November 2024, the unemployment rate in Russia exceeded two percent, having stayed on the same level as in the previous month. By comparison, 3.7 percent of the workforce aged 15 years and older nationwide were unemployed in the corresponding period two years prior. In 2022, the annual unemployment rate in Russia was measured at approximately 3.2 percent. Causes of unemployment in Russia The country’s labor market situation deteriorated in the summer of 2020 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The number of jobs contributed by the travel and tourism industry decreased from 3.3 million to 3 million between 2019 and 2022, though the figures started to recuperate again in 2023. Furthermore, Russia has witnessed an exodus of companies due to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Leading international companies like McDonald’s, Renault Group, and PepsiCo suspended their operations in the country, thus putting thousands of employees in Russia at risk of unemployment. Russia’s unemployment in global perspective Russia’s unemployment rate is lower than in most other G20 countries. This is largely due to a low fertility rate in the 1990s which has resulted in a demographic dip and left the country with fewer young workers actively seeking employment. Moreover, Russia’s weak social protection, as expressed by unemployment benefits lower than in most European countries, encourages people to find a new job rapidly. An estimated 30 million Russians were not officially registered as unemployed by working in the shadow economy as of 2021.

Employment Rate: CF: City of Moscow data was reported at 64.300 % in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 64.900 % for 2023. Employment Rate: CF: City of Moscow data is updated yearly, averaging 67.100 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2024, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 75.100 % in 2016 and a record low of 59.500 % in 1998. Employment Rate: CF: City of Moscow data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Russian Federation – Table RU.GB016: Employment Rate: by Region: Annual.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Employment Rate Total: From 15 to 64 Years for Russia (RUSLREM64TTSTQ) from Q4 2009 to Q4 2021 about Russia, 15 to 64 years, labor force, and labor.

The largest share of employed persons in Russia was occupied in trade and car maintenance services, which accounted for over 15 percent of the workforce, or over 13 million people in 2023. Furthermore, 14 percent of the employment in the country was provided by the manufacturing sector. Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on employment in Russia Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has faced an exodus of international companies, which put their staff at risk of unemployment. Among foreign companies that limited operations or permanently left the Russian market, food industry businesses employed 136,000 people. Furthermore, automotive companies were reported to have 60 thousand employees in the country. The Russian government offered these companies to transfer their assets to domestic investors to minimize the effect on the labor market. The German home improvement retailer Obi, which had employed 4,900 people in Russia, did that in April 2022.

Russia Employment Rate: Age 15 to 72 data was reported at 66.113 % in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 66.295 % for Aug 2018. Russia Employment Rate: Age 15 to 72 data is updated monthly, averaging 65.000 % from Aug 2009 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 110 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66.649 % in Aug 2016 and a record low of 60.900 % in Jan 2010. Russia Employment Rate: Age 15 to 72 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Russian Federation – Table RU.GB001: Economically Active Population: Employed and Unemployed.

Employment Rate: 3 Month Moving Average: NW: Murmansk Region data was reported at 62.100 % in Oct 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 63.200 % for Sep 2025. Employment Rate: 3 Month Moving Average: NW: Murmansk Region data is updated monthly, averaging 69.600 % from Aug 2009 (Median) to Oct 2025, with 195 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 71.700 % in Aug 2014 and a record low of 60.400 % in Jul 2020. Employment Rate: 3 Month Moving Average: NW: Murmansk Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Demographic and Labour Market – Table RU.GB: Employment Rate: by Region: Three Month Moving Average. Since January 2018, the data covers the population aged 15 and above, while prior to January 2018 it used to cover the population aged 15-72.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Employment: Economic Activity: Services: Total for Russia (LFEASETTRUQ647N) from Q1 1999 to Q4 2021 about Russia, services, and employment.

The number of employed persons in Russia remained unchanged at 75 Million in August of 2025 from 75 Million in July of 2025. This dataset provides - Russia Employed Persons - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Over ** percent of the Russian population aged 15 years and above were employed in 2023, marking a slight increase from the previous year. The lowest employment rate was recorded in 2020, at slightly above ** percent.

Employment Rate: UF: Chelyabinsk Region data was reported at 65.900 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 64.600 % for 2023. Employment Rate: UF: Chelyabinsk Region data is updated yearly, averaging 61.800 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2024, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 67.900 % in 1992 and a record low of 54.400 % in 1998. Employment Rate: UF: Chelyabinsk Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Russian Federation – Table RU.GB016: Employment Rate: by Region: Annual.

In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in Russia amounted to 9.25 percent. Between 1991 and 2024, the figure dropped by 3.65 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

The experts feared that social distancing as the foremost measure to prevent the further expansion of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, would lead to job cuts in Russia in 2020. Thus, the most feasible employment reduction rate of between 10 and 15 percent could leave from five to eight million people without a job countrywide.

Coronavirus impact on the Russian economy 

The coronavirus-induced crisis, which was enhanced by the drop of crude oil prices had a drastic impact on the Russian economy, the whole effect of which is yet to be seen in the coming months and years. The expected GDP loss for 2020 in Russia was estimated at around four percent, considering that the critical phase of the crisis and the negative manifestations would affect only 2020. For scenarios with a longer period of COVID-19 impact, the forecast was less optimistic. Shopping malls were the most affected businesses in the Russian capital during the lockdown.

 Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Russia   

While there were some cases of coronavirus reported in January 2020 in the Russian territory, outbreak of the disease in the country started a bit later, in March 2020. Up to date, there were roughly 4.4 million cases of coronavirus confirmed countrywide, roughly three fourths of which has already recovered, and over 27 thousand died as a result of COVID-19. The city of Moscow has been accounting for the highest number of reported cases in the country since the beginning of the pandemic.

For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

Employment Rate: CF: Kursk Region data was reported at 60.000 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 58.700 % for 2023. Employment Rate: CF: Kursk Region data is updated yearly, averaging 59.200 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2024, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66.000 % in 1992 and a record low of 52.200 % in 1998. Employment Rate: CF: Kursk Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Russian Federation – Table RU.GB016: Employment Rate: by Region: Annual.

Employment Rate: VR: Saratov Region data was reported at 59.800 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 58.800 % for 2023. Employment Rate: VR: Saratov Region data is updated yearly, averaging 58.100 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2024, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66.100 % in 1992 and a record low of 51.600 % in 1998. Employment Rate: VR: Saratov Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Russian Federation – Table RU.GB016: Employment Rate: by Region: Annual.

Employment, million people in Russia, August, 2025 The most recent value is 75 million employed people as of August 2025, no change compared to the previous value of 75 million employed people. Historically, the average for Russia from January 2007 to August 2025 is 71.71 million employed people. The minimum of 67.7 million employed people was recorded in January 2010, while the maximum of 75 million employed people was reached in July 2025. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Employment Total: 15 Years or over for Russia (LFEMTTTTRUA647S) from 1999 to 2021 about 15 years +, Russia, and employment.

Over **** million men and ** million women worked in Russia in 2022. The male employee count increased by ** thousand compared to the previous year. In general, the number of female and male employees has been in decline since 2018.