UK to require employers to publish salaries in job adverts

New pay transparency law planned

The UK government plans to introduce legislation requiring employers to publish salary information in job adverts. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government “will bring forward legislation as soon as possible,” though no timetable has been set for when the requirement would take effect.

The government said it will set out further details on what information will be required and how the legislation will be enforced “in due course.”

Government and business response

Burnham urged businesses to publish salaries voluntarily before the law changes.

“Whether you’re a young person starting out or a parent trying to support your family, you should know what a job pays before spending your time and effort applying for it. That’s why we will make it a legal requirement for all employers to say what you pay,” he said.

Early analysis of a government consultation found that 94 per cent of respondents backed mandatory disclosure, including 93 per cent of businesses. The government has not stated how many people or organisations responded.

Concerns and context

CIPD chief executive Neil Carberry said publishing salary details was “a good thing” in principle but “more complicated” in practice.

“There isn’t always a single fixed figure, and employers will want to set pay based on a candidate’s skills, experience and potential,” he said. “It’s complex though, which is why job advert drafting is best left to good employer practice rather than government regulation.”

CIPD research from 2024 found that 41 per cent of employers always published salary ranges, while 18 per cent always shared specific salaries.

The proposal is part of wider government efforts to help young people into work. Nearly one million people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are not in education, employment or training, according to the government’s youth employment review.

Why it matters

The move brings Britain closer to EU pay transparency rules, under which employers must disclose starting salaries or pay ranges in job adverts. The UK is not part of the EU, so the directive does not apply domestically, though many British companies operate across the continent. The government argues the change will help jobseekers, reduce wasted applications, and help expose unfair pay differences, particularly those affecting women.

Sources

• engadget.com: You'll Soon Be Able To Text Alexa To Shop On Amazon
• the-european.eu: Job Adverts Must Reveal Salaries Under New ‘Say What You Pay’ Law
• peoplemanagement.co.uk: Employers to be required to disclose salaries in job adverts under new laws
• bbc.com: Andy Burnham tells firms to publish salaries in job adverts ahead of new law
• business-live.co.uk: Andy Burnham urges firms to publish salaries in job adverts ahead of new law | Business Live
• ibtimes.co.uk: 'You Should Know What a Job Pays': UK Plans New Law Forcing Employers To Reveal Salaries in Job Adverts | IBTimes UK

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.