Overview
- From April 2026, the statutory hourly rate for workers aged 21 and over will increase to £12.71, a 4.1% rise from £12.21.
- The minimum wage for 18- to 20-year-olds will rise 8.5% to £10.85, and the rate for 16- to 17-year-olds and apprentices will move to £8, up 6%.
- The government says about 2.4 million workers will benefit, with a full‑time over‑21 worker seeing roughly £900 more a year before tax.
- Local business leaders warn the changes could fuel inflation, reduce part-time and entry-level roles for young people, and strain employer budgets.
- Low Pay Commission chair Baroness Philippa Stroud notes workers still face living‑cost pressures as many small firms also struggle with rising costs, including recent National Insurance changes.