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Official number of unemployed in Russia approaching one million — ministry

The official unemployment rate grew by 0.7% over a week (February 25 through March 4) to 985,000 people

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MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. A hike in the unemployment rate was registered in Russia over the week from February 25 through March 4, the press service of the Russian Ministry of Labour and Social Protection said on Tuesday, adding that the official unemployment rate has grown by 0.7% to 985,000 people.

As compared to the preceding period under review on February 18-25, the ministry registered a decline in the unemployment rate. On February 18-25, total number of officially registered jobless citizens went up by 2%, while overall number of unemployed Russians was estimated at 979,000 as of February 25.

Over the designated period, 68 Russian regions reported the growth in the unemployment rate.

The Ministry registered slight decline in the unemployment rate in 17 regions of the country and in the city of Baikonur, while the biggest drop in the indicator was reported from Sevastopol, as well as the republics of Chuvashia, Kalmykia, North Ossetia - Alania, Mordovia, Crimea and the Astrakhan region.

According to the ministry’s press service, the total number of part-time employees and those, who are on vacation leave on mutual agreement by the sides, exceeded 268,000 people as of March 4. Total number of vacancies exceeds 1.2 million.

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