Responses are falling: zoomers are massively rejecting jobs without a salary

The Russian labor market is changing the rules of the game: income transparency is becoming one of the key factors in choosing a job, especially for young applicants. A joint study of the online psychotherapy service "Clear" and the platform hh.ru It has shown that candidates are increasingly refusing to consider vacancies that do not specify the salary level. Why uncertainty about money increases anxiety, which professions remain the most closed and how the openness of salaries affects the reputation of employers — in the material of Izvestia.

Salary as a trust filter

An analysis of 2.1 million employee reviews, as well as thousands of vacancies and resumes for January–August 2024 and 2025, showed a direct relationship: the more transparent the payment terms, the higher the interest of applicants and the more feedback the employer receives. In 2025, 88% of candidates are already choosing jobs with the specified salary, which is 7% more than in cases where the income level is hidden.

Young job seekers are especially sensitive to this. For zoomers and millennials, the lack of numbers in vacancies is increasingly becoming a reason not to respond at all. According to the study, uncertainty increases anxiety and irritation, and after interviews where the actual conditions turn out to be lower than expected, candidates are left feeling like they've wasted their time.

"In addition to professional growth and career development, work can easily become a source of stress. When the conditions are unclear, anxiety increases. Honesty gives back a sense of control, and psychotherapy teaches you to talk calmly about money and not be afraid of rejection," the psychologists of the Yasno service say.

Where money is talked about openly

Maximum transparency is typical for professions with a low entry threshold. Waiters, couriers, and salespeople have salaries listed in 94% of vacancies, while cashiers and storekeepers have salaries in 90%. The medical and construction sectors also demonstrate a high level of openness, with an average of about 80% of vacancies with a designated income.

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The situation is different in the management segment. For senior positions, the salary is indicated only in about 60% of cases. The figures are even lower in marketing and product teams, where transparency sometimes drops below 40%. This is where the gap between candidates' expectations and actual offers most often becomes a source of stress and conflict.

Generational difference in resume

The study provided to Izvestia shows that openness is growing not only on the part of employers, but also among the applicants themselves. Teenagers are increasingly directly indicating their desired income: the share of such resumes has increased from 34% to 38% over the year. In the 18-24 year old group, the rate increased from 52% to 55%.

It is significant that the trend has also affected the older generation. Among Russians 55+, openness about salary expectations has increased to 59%. For different ages, this means the same thing — the willingness to immediately identify key conditions and not waste time on a long "bargain."

Experts note that this strategy simplifies communication between the parties and makes the dialogue more mature and honest. Applicants and companies understand more quickly whether their expectations match, and discuss not abstract prospects, but real parameters of cooperation.

Employer's reputation and the price of honesty

Salary transparency is directly related to the reputation of companies. According to the data hh.ru and Dream Job, in the first nine months of 2024, users left more than 507 thousand reviews about employers, and the total base of comments exceeded 2.1 million. Companies with a 4.5–5 rating receive twice as many responses as employers with a rating below 3.

Most of the reviews remain positive, but a significant proportion of the criticism forms a more realistic picture. This reduces candidates' anxiety and helps them make decisions consciously. Not only salaries have a significant impact on the rating, but also additional conditions — VMI, payment for psychological assistance, flexible schedule and corporate culture.

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"We see a direct correlation: vacancies with open salaries consistently receive more responses. For employers, this means that honesty speeds up hiring and reduces the cost of closing positions. And for job seekers, there is less anxiety and more trust in the company," the company emphasizes. hh.ru .

Psychologists add "Clearly" that openness about money builds the ability to discuss difficult topics without stress and sets a healthier format for employee-employer relations from the very beginning. In an environment where the younger generation is less willing to put up with uncertainty, honesty is becoming not just an ethical choice, but a competitive advantage in the labor market.