Paul Goble
Staunton, Jan. 7 – Putin and his officials proudly claim that unemployment in Russia remains at a low 2.2 percent, but that figure captures only a small portion of those without work, Valentin Katasonov. It fails to include those who haven’t registered as unemployed with the authorities or those who are listed as employed but don’t have real full-time work.
It is likely true that only 2.2 percent of the Russian workforce has registered with the government as unemployed, the Moscow economist and commentator says; but because registration only gives access to low unemployment compensation and aid in finding work, many who don’t have jobs never register (svpressa.ru/economy/article/497837/).
If those who don’t have jobs and are actively looking for work are included, the real unemployment percentage almost certainly nearly doubles. But the actual amount of unemployment is much higher because if includes those who are listed as employed but aren’t or are working less than fulltime.
And that figure, Katasonov says, brings the percentage of unemployed in the Russian Federation much higher, especially in recent months when it has been skyrocketing upwards as firms reduce hours or otherwise keep workers listed as employed lest they anger the government. He says it is long past time for Russians to face up to this truth.
The economist draws that conclusion on the basis of his own observations, those of other economists and commentators and on a report issued recently entitled The Level of Unemployment in Russia: Actual Data and the Dynamics of This Indicator available online at sky.pro/wiki/profession/uroven-bezraboticy-v-rossii-aktualnye-dannye-i-dinamika-pokazatelya/.
Katasonov concludes that real unemployment in the Russian Federation now already much higher than Moscow admits and much higher in the countries with which it compares itself has risen dramatically over the last 12 months and shows every sign of continuing to rise over the next year as well.
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