By the end of 2025, Russia saw a sharp spike in the number of employees transferred to part-time work, reduced schedules, or placed on standby. In the fourth quarter, this figure reached 1.6 million people. This is the highest level since the second quarter of 2020, when the country was under COVID-19 lockdowns, according to the Central Bank’s “Regional Economy” report. Over the course of 2025, the number of part-time and idle workers increased by 14.3%.
Industries Most Affected:
- Oil production and metallurgy.
- Construction.
- Automotive manufacturing (AvtoVAZ, GAZ, KAMAZ).
- Diamond and titanium mining (Alrosa, VSMPO-Avisma).
The Central Bank attributes this trend to falling demand and companies’ efforts to avoid mass layoffs amidst a slowing economy and high interest rates.
Analytical Summary:
The record level of underemployment is a symptom of a “hidden crisis.” Unlike 2020, when idleness was caused by administrative lockdowns, the current situation is driven by a systemic drop in demand and the high cost of capital. The inclusion of industrial giants like Alrosa and KAMAZ in this list indicates deep-seated problems in export-oriented and high-tech sectors.
Businesses are trapped: they cannot lay off staff due to a severe long-term labor shortage, but they cannot afford full salaries due to stagnating production. This “waiting mode” is unsustainable. If business activity does not pick up in the coming quarters, this hidden unemployment will inevitably become overt, further suppressing consumer demand.