The article explores the evolution of active and passive labour market policies in the Russian Federation from the 1990s to nowadays, highlighting the roles of the federal center and the regions in its implementation. The study was based on descriptive and institutional analysis, as well as content analysis of regional employment programs. The results have shown that decentralization was applied only to an active labour market policy. At the same time the most ambitious goals were continued to be reached with additional organizational and financial support from the centre.