ANDY BURNHAM ANNOUNCES SALARY DISCLOSURE RULES FOR JOB ADVERTS

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced plans to require all employers to include salary information in job adverts. He said the government would introduce a legal requirement for employers to state what they pay when advertising vacancies. 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.” Officials say publishing salaries will also help existing employees assess their pay against that of others.

A 2023 survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that 41% of employers always included salary information in job adverts. The survey, which questioned 832 decision-makers with hiring responsibilities, found that around 27% never included it. Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said: “Anyone who’s searched for a job knows how frustrating it is to read ‘competitive salary’.” Workers’ rights campaigners say the proposed requirement will particularly help young people and women achieve more equal pay.

Ministers first consulted in July on measures to improve how equal pay laws work. Burnham also called on businesses to give young people experience and confidence to enter employment. Former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn is conducting a review into young people and work, due to conclude later this month. Office for National Statistics estimates suggest vacancies fell by 21,000 to 691,000 in the three months to September. Following last week’s Budget, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch claimed “jobs have been destroyed by Labour”.