All modern states face a problem of population ageing which translates in a lower labour force participation and a growing average age of labour force, as well as an increasing pension burden for the working population. Meanwhile, in many countries of the world one could observe a trend of growing labour activities among older people. The latter is not unique to the states that have pushed up the official pension age; Russia is demonstrating the same tendency. Labour activity of seniors (formal as well as informal) is one of the key elements of an active ageing, so public policies enhancing this activity are important for the economic growth and for the social well-being. A descriptive statistical analysis used in this paper is based on the data of Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS HSE). It reveals dynamics of elders’ employment in Russia and trends of human capital accumulation among seniors, in terms of education and health. We show the increasing potential for elders’ employment and the absence of special public measures supporting such an activity in Russia. The paper ends with a survey of the employment measures aimed at increasing labour force participation of older citizens in OECD countries and the policy implications for Russian economy.