United Kingdom to mandate salary disclosure in job advertisements

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced plans for new legislation, titled “Say What You Pay,” which would legally require employers in the United Kingdom to include salary information in job advertisements. The government aims to increase transparency to assist young people entering the workforce and to help address gender pay disparities.

Data from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) indicates that currently, only 18 percent of employers consistently publish specific salaries in job ads, while 41 percent provide a salary range. The proposed mandate seeks to replace vague terms like “competitive salary” with concrete figures, allowing applicants to make informed decisions before investing time in the recruitment process.

The initiative is also part of a broader effort to support the nearly one million young people in Britain who are currently not in employment, education, or training (NEET). While a specific implementation date has not been set, the government intends to introduce the legislation to Parliament as soon as possible and has encouraged businesses to begin disclosing pay information immediately.