A recent study has found that over half (53%) of job advertisements on LinkedIn in the UK do not include salary information, highlighting a significant issue in salary transparency across various sectors.
The research, conducted by HR resource People Managing People, analysed over 4,000 live job adverts spanning 24 industries. The media and entertainment sector emerged as the least transparent, with 84 percent of job listings omitting salary details. Healthcare (78%) and finance (73%) were also among the industries with a high proportion of listings without salary information.
The lack of salary transparency is believed to be contributing to gender and racial pay gaps in the UK. Women continue to earn 7.7 percent less than their male counterparts on average, while minority ethnic workers earn 25 percent less than white workers.
Media and Entertainment Leads in Omission
The media and entertainment sector was found to be the most secretive, with 84 percent of job adverts failing to disclose pay. According to David Rice, an HR expert at People Managing People, this practice likely persists because many organisations want to maintain a competitive edge and avoid revealing the lower wages that are common in the industry.
“Many people are struggling to pay their bills, especially in media and entertainment, where junior roles often start as low as £12,000 a year—28 percent below the national average salary of £42,210,” Rice explained.
Other sectors with significant salary omission include technology (74%), insurance (73%), and marketing (70%).
Highest Salary Transparency Found in Education and Telecoms
On the other end of the spectrum, industries like education (12%) and telecommunications (20%) were the most transparent, with fewer job listings omitting salary information. Manufacturing (32%) and customer service (33%) also fared better in comparison to other sectors.
The top sectors with the highest salary transparency were:
| Sector | % of Job Listings Without Salary Information |
| Education | 12% |
| Telecommunications | 20% |
| Manufacturing | 32% |
| Customer Service | 33% |
| Government | 38% |
Regional Differences in Salary Transparency
The study also revealed stark regional differences in salary transparency. Job listings in Greater London were the least likely to include salary details, with 72% of posts lacking this crucial information. Edinburgh (54%), Bristol (52%), and Manchester (52%) followed closely.
| Region | % of Job Listings Without Salary Information |
| Greater London | 72% |
| Scotland | 45% |
| South East | 45% |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 43% |
Impact on Gender and Racial Pay Gaps
Experts warn that the lack of salary transparency is exacerbating existing pay disparities. Studies show that women in the UK earn 7.7% less than men, while minority ethnic groups face an even greater gap, earning 25% less on average compared to white workers.
David Rice commented on the broader implications: “Businesses have historically underpaid women and minorities compared to white male workers. By hiding salary details, organisations can continue these disparities without scrutiny.”
Rice further explained that salary transparency could benefit both employers and job seekers. “When salaries are disclosed upfront, it streamlines the hiring process and ensures candidates have realistic expectations, leading to more satisfied, productive employees.”
The study serves as a call for greater transparency in job postings, which could help reduce pay gaps and foster trust between employers and employees.
For more details and to access the full report, visit People Managing People.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
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