Government plans would require employers to include salary information in job adverts
Employers across Great Britain could soon be required to publish salary information in job adverts under government plans to strengthen pay transparency and tackle discrimination in recruitment.
The proposals form part of a wider review of anti-discrimination laws and would apply in England, Wales, and Scotland. Ministers say clearer pay information would help jobseekers make informed decisions before applying and reduce the risk of unequal pay outcomes during hiring.
Under the plans, employers advertising a vacancy would need to provide salary details upfront. The government is consulting on whether this should be an exact salary, a pay range, or a benchmark rate for the role. Officials are also considering whether information about bonuses and other pay-related benefits should be included.
Where a role is not publicly advertised, candidates would still have to receive the pay information in writing before an interview takes place.
In a policy document, the Cabinet Office said salary transparency could improve recruitment by reducing situations where employers and candidates have very different pay expectations. It also argued that greater openness can help prevent salary decisions being influenced by stereotypes related to gender, ethnicity, disability, or other protected characteristics.
Pay transparency is not currently mandatory in the UK, although many employers have started to include salary details voluntarily. Research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has found the practice is more common in the public and charity sectors than in private companies, with many organisations opting to publish salary ranges rather than fixed figures.
The proposals are similar to new rules being introduced across the European Union, where larger employers will have to disclose the initial salary or pay range for vacancies and share the information before interviews take place.
The consultation on the UK plans runs until October, after which ministers will decide the final details before bringing forward legislation.
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