Pay Transparency Report: 79% of respondents prefer job ads that include a salary range

Pay transparency is becoming an increasingly important topic for both employees and employers. The latest Manpower research, conducted in cooperation with FairPay Consulting, shows that employees in Slovenia generally support greater transparency, yet many still lack the information they need to understand how their pay is determined and whether it is fair.

The research was conducted in the first half of 2026 as part of a regional study involving 2,676 respondents from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia. In Slovenia, 548 respondents took part.

Strong support for transparency, but awareness of the Directive remains limited

59% of Slovenian respondents agree that pay transparency contributes to fairer pay decisions. At the same time, 23% have never heard of the EU Pay Transparency Directive, while 27% know its main requirements or say they know the Directive well.

There is also a noticeable gap between support for transparency and perceptions of fairness within respondents’ current workplaces. Only 35% believe that employees doing work of equal value receive equal or comparable pay, while almost 20% are unable to say whether this is the case.

The findings suggest that pay transparency is not only about access to information, but also about understanding the criteria behind pay decisions.

Pay transparency is becoming an important factor when choosing an employer

79% of respondents prefer job ads that include a salary range. Information about the gender pay gap can also influence candidate decisions: 76% of respondents say that such information could affect their decision to apply for a job.

However, the figure alone is not what matters. For 42.8% of respondents, their decision depends on how the company explains the gender pay gap. The way an employer communicates the context and reasons behind pay differences can therefore play an important role in the candidate experience.

Pay transparency is increasingly becoming a factor in employer attractiveness, rather than simply a matter of compliance with the Directive.

Employees know their salary, but less about how it is determined

84% of respondents know their exact salary, yet only 25% know the salary range for their role. Just 35% know the criteria used to determine their pay.

This highlights an important difference between knowing the number itself and understanding the wider pay structure behind it. Clear communication about salary ranges, pay criteria and progression opportunities can therefore contribute to a stronger sense of fairness and greater trust.

Conversations about pay are already part of the workplace. 55% of respondents say they discuss their salary with colleagues, mainly informally and within a smaller circle.

What does fair pay mean to employees?

According to Slovenian respondents, the most important factors in determining pay should be performance and achievements, followed by experience and expertise. Education is seen as less important, while length of service and cultural fit rank lowest.

The findings also show that employees do not assess salary in isolation from the employer’s overall offer. Development opportunities, long-term career prospects and flexible working conditions can help offset a lower starting salary.

78% of respondents would be willing to accept below-average pay under certain conditions, while 21% say that nothing would persuade them to do so. Among the factors that can influence such a decision are a clear explanation of the reasons, opportunities for career progression, and greater clarity around roles and salary ranges.

Pay transparency is increasingly in focus, both because of the requirements of the EU Pay Transparency Directive and because employee and candidate expectations are changing. The findings suggest that, alongside making information available, companies will increasingly need to clearly explain salary ranges, pay criteria and the reasons behind pay differences.

Discover more findings from the research and access the full free Pay Transparency Report HERE.