Employers will be forced to publish salaries on job adverts, Andy Burnham has announced, in an effort to empower both employees and jobseekers.

The prime minister said his government would bring in a legal requirement for companies to say what they pay when listing new jobs, which campaigners say 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, while officials say that publicising pay will help those in work know if they are being paid fairly in comparison with others .

The prime minister 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.

“But breaking down barriers is only one part of the job.…