Medvedev: Russian labor market stable, under control

MOSCOW, Apr 21 (PRIME) -- The Russian labor market is stable and the government controls it, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at a meeting with the government on Thursday.

“As for positive news, I would like to note that the situation on the labor market is stable in general. The number of officially registered individuals was little bit higher than a million of people,” Medvedev said.

“Estimates calculated in compliance with International Labor Organization’s requirements are also rising slowly, almost flat. It means that those decisions which have been made and the situation on the market in general are under control.”

The government’s stimulus package for 2015 allowed the economy to adjust to new conditions, according to the prime minister.

According to data of the Federal State Statistics Service, unemployment rose to 4.6 million people, or 6% of the work force, in March from 5.8% in February. The number of unemployed people registered with employment services was 1.1 million in March.

According to a baseline forecast of the Economic Development Ministry, Russia’s unemployment will stand at 5.8% of the work force in 2017–2018 and 5.7% in 2019.

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