UK employers are more transparent on pay than their counterparts in Europe, according to data from Indeed’s job listings.
The data showed that 71 percent of UK job adverts list salary compared to 50 percent in France and 16 percent in Germany.
Job listings showed that salary transparency in the UK has increased from 47.7 percent in 2019, to 71 percent in 2024, making the country a front runner in Europe. Indeed’s proprietary data shows a steady upward trend and reflects growing demand from jobseekers for greater pay clarity, and a broader movement towards transparency in hiring.
This data has been released by Indeed alongside a poll of 6,000 Europeans (across the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands), which found 59 percent of European jobseekers believe salary ranges should be included in job descriptions.
Poll results also showed a disconnect between job hunters’ expectations and reality around reward transparency. Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) of European jobseekers also want to see benefits such as annual leave (54 percent), bonuses (48 percent), and healthcare (38 percent) in job postings.
New rules coming in in 2026, under the EU Pay Transparency Directive, will prevent recruiters asking candidates about their past salaries in a bid to tackle gender pay discrimination. However, the poll found that 41 percent of European candidates admitted that they don’t tell the truth when they are asked about their previous salary, and 28 percent said they inflated their past earnings.
Further data showed that salary transparency also varies significantly within workplaces. The poll found that 28 percent of European employees report full salary transparency in their workplace, while 37 percent have partial transparency, such as disclosure of salary brackets.
Almost a third (31 percent) said there is no pay transparency in their organisation.
In the UK, employers are more likely to share internal salary brackets than their European peers, while 34 percent of UK employees said they know what their colleagues earn, compared to 22 percent in the Netherlands.
Jack Kennedy, senior economist at Indeed, said: “The UK is leading the way in salary transparency, with jobseekers increasingly expecting clear pay information upfront. It’s not just a nice-to-have; it’s a key driver in attracting talent and building trust in the hiring process.”
He said that greater transparency fosters trust, reduces inefficiencies in hiring, and ultimately helps support a healthier labour market that drives productivity and economic growth.
“As we navigate ongoing economic headwinds, employers who prioritise transparency will be better placed to compete and contribute to a healthier economy overall,” he added.
