Around 1.5 million people in Russia are officially registered as unemployed, but Melikyan said the real figure was around 5.1 million.
If one added the 4.8 million people on unpaid leave or part-time work the figure rose to almost 10 million people -- or 13 percent of the work force -- which was an indication of what was to come, he said.
"The minister is worried about the excessively quick rate at which hidden unemployment is becoming real." Itar-Tass said.
Top officials, fearing a possible social explosion, have frequently given gloomy forecasts of joblessness. They say closing factories pushes unemployment up and triggers social unrest.
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