OREANDA-NEWS. As the research from HSE University has found, more than 60% of Russians have seen their earnings drop as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

As self-isolation regimes across the country — including in Moscow — begin to wind down and shops reopen, the HSE survey of around 7,600 citizens from different regions reveals the toll the virus has taken on jobs, wages and living standards.

One in ten Russians said they had lost their job as a result of the crisis — a figure which would put unemployment numbers close to 10 million, in line with the most pessimistic forecasts made at the start of the crisis, including from Audit Chamber chief Alexei Kudrin. Russia's official unemployment numbers stand at just 1.7 million (up 30% since the start of the pandemic).

14% of respondents said they had completely lost their income since the start of the coronavirus crisis. However, that number is down from a high of 24% in the days after Russia introduced a non-working period at the end of March. One in three workers said they had seen a «significant reduction» in their incomes, while 16% told about a «slight reduction.» Combining all those who said their income had fallen, or been wiped out completely, 61% reported their earnings were lower now than before the coronavirus outbreak.

As it was earlier reported, there are 2.09 million officially registered unemployed in Russia.