The unemployment rate in Russia rose to 2.2% in March of 2026 from 2.1% in the previous month. The total number of unemployed increased to 1.674 million from 1.636 million in October but was well below 1.729 million a year earlier. The tight labor market reflects a widespread shortage affecting all sectors, exacerbated by military recruitment and defense industry hiring following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as well as emigration. source: Federal State Statistics Service

Unemployment Rate in Russia increased to 2.20 percent in March from 2.10 percent in February of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Russia averaged 6.69 percent from 1992 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 14.60 percent in February of 1999 and a record low of 2.10 percent in August of 2025. This page provides - Russia Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Russia Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Russia increased to 2.20 percent in March from 2.10 percent in February of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Russia is expected to be 2.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Russia Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 3.00 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-01 04:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 2.1% 2.2% 2.30%
2026-04-29 04:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 2.2% 2.1% 2.30%
2026-06-03 04:00 PM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 2.2%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 74.60 74.70 Million Jan 2026
Employment Rate 61.60 61.70 percent Jan 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 63.00 63.10 percent Jan 2026
Minimum Wages 27093.00 22440.00 RUB/Month Jan 2026
Population 146.10 146.10 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 3.40 2.40 percent Dec 2024
Unemployed Persons 1.60 1.60 Million Jan 2026
Unemployment Rate 2.20 2.10 percent Mar 2026
Real Wage Growth YoY 8.60 8.60 percent Feb 2026
Wages 103900.00 103612.00 RUB/Month Feb 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 102274.80 104229.90 RUB/Month Feb 2026


Russia Unemployment Rate
In Russia, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.20 2.10 14.60 2.10 1992 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
Russia Unemployment Rate Rises in March
The unemployment rate in Russia rose to 2.2% in March of 2026 from 2.1% in the previous month. The total number of unemployed increased to 1.674 million from 1.636 million in October but was well below 1.729 million a year earlier. The tight labor market reflects a widespread shortage affecting all sectors, exacerbated by military recruitment and defense industry hiring following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as well as emigration.
2026-04-29
Russian Unemployment Rate Falls to Record Low
The unemployment rate in Russia fell to 2.1% in February of 2026 from 2.2% in the previous month, tying for the lowest rate on record. The result was maintained the tightening labor market trend in Russia since the pandemic shock in 2020. The war in Ukraine and the Kremlin's mobilization of working-aged men resulted in an exodus of labor force candidates.
2026-04-01
Russia Jobless Rate Below Forecasts
Russia’s unemployment rate remained steady at 2.2% in January, unchanged from December and below market expectations of 2.3%. The persistently low unemployment highlights a widespread labor shortage, exacerbated since Moscow deployed its military to Ukraine in February 2022. The number of unemployed rose slightly to 1.66 million from 1.643 million in December. Authorities project that the labor market will stay tight for years, forecasting a shortfall of 3.1 million workers by 2030.
2026-03-04