The official unemployment rate in Russia fell 1.6% to 1.86 million people in the week of July 1-7, the Ministry of Health and Social Development said on Monday. "The number of unemployed citizens decreased in 81 Russian regions. The most significant reduction was registered in the Jewish Autonomous Area, the Republic of Tyva and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area," the ministry said in a statement.
The official figures reflect the number of people registered with employment agencies and entitled to unemployment benefits. However, many Russians who lost their jobs are unwilling to register with employment agencies due to meager unemployment payments. According to the latest figures available from the International Labor Organization (ILO), 5.6 million people were jobless in Russia as of June 1, 2010.
