Job postings in Ontario required to include more information starting in 2026

A law mandating new requirements for job postings by companies of over 25 people will go into effect starting Jan. 1, 2026 in Ontario.

In the new year, companies have to disclose in publicly advertised job postings whether AI will be used when selecting a candidate and if the position advertised is vacant, according to incoming changes to the Ontario Employment Standards Act.

Postings will need to list the salary range for the position with a maximum difference of $50,000 and mention other forms of compensation, including commission and bonuses.

The law will also require companies to follow up with applicants within 45 days of their last interview to let them know whether they were successful.

Andrea Little, a freelance digital user-experience designer from Kitchener, has been searching for a full-time position since her previous employer did some restructuring this fall. 

She said many companies don’t provide details about the role or pay in their job postings. Little said she thinks transparency requirements will be helpful for applicants.

“Having that information up front, it helps me better gauge whether that role’s a fit and if it's worth pursuing,” she said.

But there’s debate among experts about whether the transparency laws will change much for job seekers. 

Just because the salaries are posted as a certain range in the listing, does not mean companies are required to pay that amount, said Travis O’Rourke, president of recruitment firm Hays Canada.

O’Rourke said companies could post a job with a high rank and salary, but by the time the interviews happen, the company could decide they could get by filling a lower level position and adjust the pay and title accordingly. 

“This legislation allows you to completely do that,” he said. 

Employers across the country are increasingly using AI while selecting candidates. Little said applicants don’t know who, or what, will be receiving their application.

“You can submit something online and a human will never see it,” said Little.

“If a job posting is written in present tense and your resume typically is written in past tense, it won't see it as a match.”