Russia's jobless rate hits new all-time low in May

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's unemployment rate, seen by the central bank as a key indicator of economic overheating, hit the new all-time low level of 2.2% of the workforce in May, statistical data showed on Wednesday, compared with 2.3% the previous month.

Economists in the Reuters poll predicted no change in the unemployment rate. Central bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina said earlier on Wednesday that there were signs of easing in the severity of labour market shortages.

Russian statistical agency Rosstat provided the following data:

RUSSIAN UNEMPLOYMENT May 25 Apr 25 May 24

No. unemployed (mln) 1.653 1.709 2.005

Officially registered (mln) 0.354 0.336 0.450

Jobless rate (%) 2.2 2.3 2.6

(Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya, writing by Gleb Bryanski, editing by Mark Heinrich)