UK employers will have to publish salaries on job adverts, Prime Minister Burnham announces

Employers in the United Kingdom will be forced to publish salaries on job adverts, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced. His government will bring in a legal requirement for companies to say what they pay when listing new jobs.

The government presented the move as its latest 'small fix' to help improve people's lives. Campaigners say publicising pay will help young people and women in particular achieve more equal pay.

Burnham said the move would help deal with the frustration of applying for a job without knowing the salary. He 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. That's why we will make it a legal requirement for all employers to say what you pay.'

The prime minister added that breaking down barriers is only one part of the job. Businesses also need to open more doors and give young people the experience and confidence to take that first step into the world of work.

Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, backed the announcement, saying: 'Anyone who's searched for a job knows how frustrating it is to read "competitive salary".'

Recent research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found less than half of employers always published salary ranges on job adverts, while less than a fifth always published specific salaries.

Experts say omitting pay details from job adverts makes it harder for young people to know which jobs to apply for, and makes it easier for employers to give lower pay offers to some candidates, including women.

Burnham has spent much of his first few months in power announcing a series of 'small fixes' to help improve people's daily lives. The changes have included removing VAT from electricity bills, reducing bus fares and a £100 council tax rebate announced at the budget.