Unemployment rate reaches two million

14 April, 2009, 18:13

The official number of unemployed in Russia has surpassed two million, and most major Russian industries have been unable to escape the global economic downturn.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has held a meeting with an expert panel to discuss possible solutions.

Analysts estimate around nine million, roughly 12% of Russia's workforce, will be laid off by the end of the year. The government says it is doing its best to tackle the situation.

“There is a whole complex of anti-crisis undertakings that is being implemented by the government of the Russian Federation with a view to supporting some or other branches of the economy,” said Tatiana Golikova, Russia’s Minister of Health Care and Social Development, in an exclusive interview with RT