Unemployment rate in Russia in 2026: monthly data and regions

2026-10-05 · Labour resources, employment and unemployment

The unemployment rate in Russia in 2026 stays at 2.2%. That is what Rosstat counted in each three‑month window since the beginning of the year, the latest of which ended in July. The number of unemployed in May–July was 1,682.6 thousand people aged 15–72. The decline that had been ongoing since autumn 2020 ended in autumn 2025, and since then the country has not been able to fall lower. With a flat average, regions move in different directions: in Sverdlovsk Oblast unemployment for the year almost doubled, in Moscow it grew noticeably, while Ingushetia and Dagestan continue to decline. Below is the monthly dynamics, the number of unemployed and the regional picture; each chart has an interactive version on the website.

Unemployment in 2026 by month

Rosstat publishes unemployment not for a single month, but as a three‑month average. The labour force survey sample in one month is too small to give an accurate figure for regions, so each value refers to a rolling window: “January–March”, “February–April” and so on.

In the first half of 2025 the indicator lost two tenths, and in 2026 it did not move at all. The minimum of the whole series, 2.1%, occurred in three windows last year: June–August to August–October 2025. Then unemployment returned to 2.2% and has stayed at that level for nine windows in a row.

For perspective: at the end of 2016 the level was 5.4%, and in the summer of 2020, at the peak of the coronavirus downturn, it reached 6.4%. The monthly series from November 2016 for all regions opens on the interactive three‑month unemployment chart.

Annual figures since 2000 and an analysis of why low unemployment is largely explained by demographics are in a separate article: unemployment level in Russia by year. Here we only discuss what is happening in 2026.

How many unemployed people were there in Russia in 2026

In May–July 2026, the number of unemployed was 1,682.6 thousand people. A year earlier, in May–July 2025, it was 1,653.2 thousand. The difference is about 29 thousand people. For a labour force of tens of millions this is less than a tenth of a percent, so the rate that Rosstat rounds to the nearest tenth remained unchanged.

The low point in numbers fell in July–September 2025: 1,627.6 thousand. Since then the number of unemployed has increased by 55 thousand. By comparison, in July–September 2020 it was 4,800.6 thousand, almost three times the current figure.

Employment does not decline. The employment rate for the population aged 15–72 in May–July 2026 was 68.0%, a year earlier 67.9%. That is, the rise in the number of unemployed is not yet linked to mass layoffs: the number of employed people in the country does not decrease. Figures for each subject are shown on the employment rate by region chart.

How unemployment is calculated

Who is counted as unemployed

A person aged 15 to 72 who, in the reference week, did not have a job, was looking for one and was ready to start work. This is the methodology used by the International Labour Organization. Registration at an employment centre is not required, so Rosstat's official unemployment figure is always higher than the number of registered unemployed.

What "unemployment rate" means

It is the share of unemployed in the labour force, i.e., among those who work or are looking for work. A pensioner who does not look for work and a full‑time student are not included in the denominator. If it is calculated for the entire population aged 15 and older, without an upper age limit, the result in 2026 is the same: 2.2%.

Why the data are released with a delay

The survey is conducted every month, but Rosstat aggregates three months into one reporting window and releases it with a lag. Therefore, at the beginning of October the most recent window on the website ends in July.

Unemployment by region in 2026

In May–July 2026 the lowest unemployment was in Kaluga Oblast: 0.8%. Next were Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and Khabarovsk Krai, at 0.9%, Novgorod Oblast and Yugra, at 1.0%. The highest remains in the North Caucasus republics.

The most noticeable declines over the year are precisely in those where unemployment is high: in Ingushetia down by 3.5 points, in North Ossetia down by 1.1, in Arkhangelsk Oblast (together with Nenets Autonomous Okrug) from 2.9 to 1.8. The full regional picture can be seen in the regional unemployment ranking.

Where unemployment rose

The national average stays unchanged, but in roughly a third of the regions the indicator rose over the year. This is most evident in two places.

Sverdlovsk Oblast. In May–July 2025 it was 1.7%, a year later 2.9%. The rise began in winter: in December–February it was 1.3%, then 1.5, 1.8, 2.2, 2.7 and 2.9. The oblast was above the Russian average for the first time since 2020. Because of it, the entire Ural Federal District increased from 1.5 to 2.1%.

Moscow. A year earlier 0.8%, in autumn 2025 0.7%, and in May–July 2026 already 1.4%. For the capital this is twice the autumn minimum. Moscow moved from the best row of the table to the middle of the top twenty, and the Central District followed, rising from 1.4 to 1.6%.

Unemployment also rose in Primorsky Krai (from 2.1 to 2.8%), Kemerovo Oblast (from 2.6 to 3.3%), the Komi Republic (from 2.7 to 3.4%), and Chelyabinsk Oblast (from 1.6 to 2.0%). Detailed dynamics for any of them are available on pages such as unemployment in Sverdlovsk Oblast or unemployment in Moscow.

Federal districts

Two districts with industrial centers and the capital moved up, the North Caucasus continues to catch up with the rest, the South and the Far East remain unchanged. Hence the flat 2.2% for the country: growth in some places is offset by declines in others.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the unemployment rate in Russia in 2026?

2.2% according to Rosstat data for May–July 2026. The same level was recorded in all three‑month windows since the beginning of the year.

How many unemployed people are there in Russia now?

1 682.6 thousand people aged 15–72 on average for May–July 2026, about 1.7 million.

Is unemployment rising in 2026?

The rate does not change, the number of unemployed is slowly increasing: from 1 627.6 thousand in autumn 2025 to 1 682.6 thousand in summer 2026. In some regions the rise is noticeable, for example in Sverdlovsk Oblast and Moscow.

Which region has the lowest unemployment in 2026?

Kaluga Oblast, 0.8% in May–July. Followed by Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and Khabarovsk Krai, each at 0.9%.

Which region has the highest unemployment?

Republic of Ingushetia: 22.3% in May–July 2026. This is noticeably lower than last year's 25.8%. In second place Dagestan with 9.9%.

Why are there no data for August and September?

Rosstat releases a three‑month window with a delay after its end. The June–August window and subsequent windows will appear on the website after the next releases; analysis of Rosstat publications is done a day later.

In Brief

In 2026 unemployment in Russia stalled at 2.2%: the decline that started in autumn 2020 ended at a minimum of 2.1% in autumn 2025. Unemployed people number about 1.68 million, which is 29 thousand more than a year earlier, but employment is not falling. Within the country the picture is varied: Sverdlovsk Oblast (2.9%) and Moscow (1.4%) have noticeably increased over the year, the North Caucasus is declining, although Ingushetia with 22.3% remains far behind all others. All figures come from Rosstat's sample labor force surveys.

See also

• Regional ranking by unemployment
• Unemployment rate in Russia by years, series since 2000
• Average salary in Russia in 2026, what happens to incomes with low unemployment