UK to require employers to publish salaries on job adverts

New pay transparency rule

The UK government will make it a legal requirement for employers to publish salaries on job adverts, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced.

Burnham said: “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.”

The change is aimed particularly at young people applying for their first job and at addressing pay inequalities that can disadvantage women, the government said.

What the research shows

Recent research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found less than half of employers always published salary ranges on job adverts, while less than a fifth always published specific salaries. Deeside.com cited a 2024 report by the same body, giving the figures as 41 per cent always publishing salary ranges and 18 per cent always publishing specific salaries.

The government said 93% of businesses responded positively to its consultation, according to The Guardian. Deeside.com reported that early analysis showed 94 per cent of respondents backed the requirement, including 93 per cent of businesses.

What happens next

Ministers have not yet decided exactly what information will have to be published, which size of company will have to comply, or how it will be enforced, The Guardian reported. Deeside.com said the government would bring forward legislation “as soon as possible”, with details on which jobs it will cover, what information must be given and how it will be enforced to be set out later.

Until the law changes, Burnham is calling on businesses to start publishing salaries in their job adverts now.

Why it matters

Pay transparency campaigners say the measure will help young people and women achieve more equal pay. Bridget Phillipson, the Minister for Women and Equalities, said: “What a job pays is rightly at the forefront of people’s minds when looking for work – it shouldn’t be a guessing game.” Penny East, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: “For too long, salary secrecy has put women at a disadvantage, leaving them negotiating in the dark and making it much harder to challenge unfair and unequal pay.”

Sources

• theguardian.com: Employers to be forced to put salaries on job ads, Andy Burnham announces | Employment law | The Guardian
• deeside.com: Employers to be legally required to publish salaries in job adverts | Deeside.com

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