Abstract. In accordance with Structural change theory by Fischer-Clark and with the tendency to expand intangible services sector and manufacturing industries in the inter-sectoral structure of the regional economy, this paper presents authors' proposals to improve the method of structural and rank analysis in regional economic sustainability assessment. The classification of the regions on the basis of specific calculations which applies a differentiated approach to strategic planning and management methods makes it possible to increase the achievability of strategic objectives of regional development for the subjects of the Russian Federation with different types of economic structure.