PM urges employers to publish salaries in job adverts now

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is urging businesses to publish salaries in job adverts now, rather than wait for a law that would require it. The BBC reported that the government plans to make pay details compulsory in job adverts, with legislation to be brought forward "as soon as possible".

The government says mandatory salary disclosure will help jobseekers, particularly those applying for their first job, and could help prevent pay discrimination. Its announcement calls the measure the "say what you pay" law, and says jobseekers will see salaries before they apply. The government's press release sets out the plans.

The Cabinet Office launched a consultation into pay and reducing discrimination in the summer. The government said 94% of respondents backed greater transparency. The consultation document proposed requiring all employers to publish pay information in job adverts.

The government said the move is part of attempts to reduce the nearly one million young people who are not in education, employment or training, known as Neet.

Data from the jobs site Adzuna shows that 51% of adverts on its UK site in September included salary information. Adzuna said the proportion has fallen in recent years. Reuters reported in February 2025 that British employers were the most likely among those in major European countries to include salary details in their adverts.

Under EU rules, employers must disclose the initial pay or pay range for new roles, either in a published advert or before an interview.

A week before the government's announcement, the Equality and Human Rights Commission said employees should legally be able to find out what their colleagues are earning.