28/11/2025

On 26 November 2025, the Government has published the Minimum wage rates for 2026 of increases to the National Minimum Wage, including the National Living Wage. These will be effective from 6 April 2026. The Government accepted in full the recommendations of the independent Low Pay Commission (LPC).

	NMW rate from April 2026	Increase (£)	Increase (%)
National Living Wage (21 and over)	£12.71	50p	4.1
18-20 Year Old Rate	£10.85	85p	8.5
16-17 Year Old Rate	£8.00	45p	6.0
Apprentice Rate	£8.00	45p	6.0

 

This marks yet another significant cost increase for employers, already struggling with rising wage bills. Earlier this year, employer NICs rose from 13.8% to 15%, and this has now been coupled with a sharp reduction in the earnings threshold at which NICs become payable — lowered from £9,100 per year to £5,000, a level fixed until April 2028.