In Europe, as in Ukraine, most candidates still do not know how much they will be offered when they respond to a job posting. The European Union adopted the Pay Transparency Directive, which requires employers to state the salary or its range; however, by the deadline of 7 June 2026, most countries had not managed to transpose the new rules into national legislation.

Why Brussels Intervened

The European Commission views the concealment of pay levels as a factor that contributes to discrimination and widens the gender pay gap. According to Eurostat data, in 2024 this gap in the EU stood at 11.1%: on average, for every 100 euros earned by men, women received 88.9 euros. This was one of the key reasons for introducing the new transparency requirements.

Italy Overtakes the UK for the First Time

The most notable changes have been recorded in Italy. According to data from the Indeed platform, the share of job ads with a stated salary rose from 26% in July 2025 to 61% in July 2026. Thus, Italy overtook the UK for the first time among six major European countries — 61% versus 60%. At the same time, London is not part of the EU, but since 2020 it has consistently shown a high share of such job ads.

Where Transparency Remains Low

Italy's result contrasts with other major economies. In Germany, the salary is stated in only 14% of job ads, in Spain — 18%, in France — 43%, and in the Netherlands — 49.5%. Full transparency in 100% of listings is not expected: the directive contains exceptions, and in several countries work on the rules for application and enforcement is ongoing.

Who Made It in Time and Who Delayed

As of this period, only five EU countries have transposed the directive — Italy, Slovakia, Malta, Lithuania, and Greece. Spain has made limited progress, Germany has postponed transposition to early 2027, and France's position remains uncertain.

Context: Ukraine and Cautious Hiring in Europe

In Ukraine, in a number of sectors, including media, salaries have risen noticeably over the year, yet employers complain that the number of responses per job posting has remained at the same level or declined. Meanwhile, European companies are holding back on hiring, while simultaneously assessing the need for new staff, automation opportunities, and investments in artificial intelligence.