The number of working Russians over the past year fell by 1.65 million people (to 70.77 million), having collapsed to a minimum in ten years. The data were provided by FinExpertiza analysts.
In such a number of jobs, the last time was reduced only in the crisis year of 2009. The working population has declined in 67 of 85 Russian regions, especially in Karachay-Cherkessia, the republics of Mordovia and Mari El. Only in the 90s did the employment rate decline more dramatically.
In the country as a whole, the number of workers decreased by 2.3 percent over the year. The most negative dynamics was in poorer regions with low incomes of the population. The sharp decline in workers was primarily due to the closure of enterprises and staff cuts during the coronavirus crisis, the report said.
Elena Trubnikova, President of FinExpertiza, stressed that a lack of jobs and a shortage of labor are long-term problems of the Russian economy associated with structural and demographic factors.
In March, another wave of reductions may take place in Russia, said the head of the Ministry of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov. The minister admitted that such a situation is possible in companies from the service, entertainment and catering sectors.