Abstract: This research is devoted to the process of introduction of the National Qualitification System into the social labor sphere of the Russian Federation. This is the System that succeeds the previous qualifications system. Generally, the National Qualification System in Russia is represented by four inter-related elements: professional standards, independent assessment of qualifications, professional social accreditment of education programs and directory of the most demanded professions. European countries have been having such systems for quite a logn time, thus they have a lot of experience in this sphere. The aim of this research is to find common features and differences between European and Russian qualifications systems as well as the experience of implementation of this sytem in Russia. In addition, the authors analyze differences between previous Russian qualification systems that were based on directories of professions and modern systems that are based on professional standards. In their research the authors have applied such methods as analysis, synthesis and summary of legal materials. The scientific novelty of the research is caused by the fact that the authors analyze difficulties and challenges of introducing the new qualifications system into the Russian labor law as well as problems the society has faced as a result of implementation of the new system. As the result of the research, the author concludes that the main feature of the National Qualifications System in Russia is the synthesis of mandatory (imperative) and market grounds.