Unemployment rate · Russia

Russia Unemployment Rate

The Russia Unemployment Rate measures the share of the labour force in Russia, people working or actively looking for work, who have no job but want one.

Importance: Medium
Released: Monthly
Next release: Wed 2 Dec 2026 16:00 UTC
Currency: RUB · Russian rouble
Central bank: The Bank of Russia

Latest figures

The latest release for SEP, published on 28 October 2026, came in at 2.2%, in line with the consensus of 2.2%, unchanged from 2.2% the time before.

A result in line with the consensus usually causes little reaction: it was already priced in.

Over the last 12 releases it ranged from 2.1% to 2.3%, averaging 2.2%.

Actual results; the short line on a bar marks the consensus.

Released	For	Actual	Consensus	Previous
28 Oct 2026	SEP	2.2%	2.2%	2.2%
30 Sep 2026	AUG	2.2%	2.2%	2.3%
2 Sep 2026	JUL	2.3%	–	2.2%
29 Jul 2026	JUN	2.2%	–	2.1%
1 Jul 2026	MAY	2.1%	–	2.2%
3 Jun 2026	APR	2.2%	2.2%	2.2%
29 Apr 2026	MAR	2.2%	–	2.1%
1 Apr 2026	FEB	2.1%	–	2.2%
4 Mar 2026	JAN	2.2%	2.3%	2.2%
6 Feb 2026	DEC	2.2%	2.2%	2.1%
26 Dec 2025	NOV	2.1%	2.2%	2.2%
3 Dec 2025	OCT	2.2%	2.2%	2.2%

Released

For

Actual

Consensus

28 Oct 2026

SEP

2.2%

2.2%

30 Sep 2026

AUG

2.2%

2.2%

2.3%

2 Sep 2026

JUL

2.3%

–

2.2%

29 Jul 2026

JUN

2.2%

–

2.1%

1 Jul 2026

MAY

2.1%

–

2.2%

3 Jun 2026

APR

2.2%

2.2%

29 Apr 2026

MAR

2.2%

–

2.1%

1 Apr 2026

FEB

2.1%

–

2.2%

4 Mar 2026

JAN

2.2%

2.3%

2.2%

6 Feb 2026

DEC

2.2%

2.2%

2.1%

26 Dec 2025

NOV

2.1%

2.2%

3 Dec 2025

OCT

2.2%

2.2%

See it in the economic calendar →

Why it matters

Full employment is part of most central banks' mandate. A falling unemployment rate means a tighter labour market, faster wage growth and more inflation pressure, which can keep the Bank of Russia hawkish; a rising rate is one of the clearest recession signals (the US "Sahm rule" flags a 0.5-point rise in the three-month average).

How it is calculated

Rosstat usually runs a household survey: people are counted as unemployed if they had no work, were available and looked for a job recently. The rate is unemployed ÷ (employed + unemployed). Registered jobless and claimant counts instead count people signed on for benefits. Participation is the labour force ÷ working-age population.

Unemployment rate = unemployed ÷ labour force × 100
Labour force = employed + unemployed

What changes mean

A lower rate than expected usually supports the Russian rouble.
Check participation: unemployment can fall because people stop looking, which is not good news.
Broader measures (US U-6) include part-timers who want more hours.

Higher than expected: A higher unemployment rate than expected points to a weakening labour market: the Russian rouble tends to soften as markets price in lower rates.

Lower than expected: A lower unemployment rate than expected signals a tight labour market: it tends to support the Russian rouble and push bond yields up.

A short history

Systematic unemployment statistics began in the 1930s Depression; the International Labour Organization's definition, adopted in 1982, is used by most countries today.

Questions

What is the Russia Unemployment Rate?

The Russia Unemployment Rate measures the share of the labour force in Russia, people working or actively looking for work, who have no job but want one.

What was the latest Russia Unemployment Rate?

2.2% for SEP, published on 28 October 2026 (consensus 2.2%, previous 2.2%).

When is the next Russia Unemployment Rate?

On Wednesday 2 December 2026 at 16:00 UTC.

Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.