Politics · United Kingdom · 2 hrs ago
UK plans to require salary details in job advertisements
Britain plans to make salary details mandatory in job ads under legislation it will introduce to Parliament.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the change is part of efforts to reduce the number of young people not in work, education or training.
Nearly one million people aged 16 to 24 in Britain are in that situation, equal to 13% of the age group.
The government says applicants should know what a job pays before spending time applying, and that clearer pay information could help address disadvantages affecting women.
Just over two in five employers always publish pay ranges, while fewer than one in five always disclose specific salaries, according to estimates cited by the government.
Some employers say setting a single figure can be difficult because pay may depend on a candidate’s skills and experience.
The government has not set a timeline and says it will give more details about required information and enforcement later.
Britain will require employers to include salary information in job advertisements, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Nov 5.
The government says the measure will help young people applying for jobs, improve pay transparency and address disparities that can disadvantage women.
Legislation will be introduced to Parliament, but the government has not provided a timeline.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s chief executive said setting pay can depend on a candidate’s skills, experience and potential.
Nearly one million people aged 16 to 24 in Britain are not in employment, education or training.
- Who
- The UK government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, plans to require employers to disclose salary information in job adverts.
- What
- Employers will have to publish salaries in job advertisements. Legislation is due to be introduced to Parliament.
- When
- Burnham announced the plan on Nov 5. The government has not provided a timeline for the legislation.
- Where
- Britain.
- Why
- The government says disclosure could help young people applying for jobs, improve pay transparency and help tackle disparities that can disadvantage women.
UK government
CIPD chief executive Neil Carberry
Pay disclosure
UK government
The government says mandatory salary information would help jobseekers and improve transparency.
CIPD chief executive Neil Carberry
Carberry said salary details can be complicated because pay may depend on a candidate’s skills, experience and potential.
Regulation
UK government
The government plans to make salary disclosure mandatory through legislation.
CIPD chief executive Neil Carberry
Carberry said drafting job adverts is best left to employer practice rather than government regulation.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission said publishing salaries in job adverts would be a positive step.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that Britain would require employers to publish salaries in job advertisements.
A government review into youth inactivity is due to be published.
- Announcement date
- Nov 5
- Youth inactivity
- Nearly one million, or 13%, of people aged 16 to 24 in Britain are not in employment, education or training.
- Employer pay ranges
- Just over two in five employers always publish salary ranges.
- Specific salaries
- Fewer than one in five employers always disclose specific salaries.
- Legislation
- The government plans to introduce legislation to Parliament; no timeline was provided.
3 sources
What people are saying
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.
There isn't always a single fixed figure, and employers will want to set pay based on a candidate's skills, experience and potential.
best left to good employer practice rather than government regulation
positive step