National Minimum Wage increases for April 2026
We have now received confirmation on the new rates of National Minimum Wage which will take effect from 1 April 2026.
Although not necessarily welcomed by employers, the headline over 21 rate increase for the National Living Wage is the second smallest since it was introduced in 2016. A full time NLW worker will see their annual pay rise by £977.
The most significant increase, takes effect for those aged from 18 – 20 who will benefit from an 8.5% increase in the minimum rate of pay.
The new rates are shown in the table below:
| Rate from April 2026 | Current Rate | Increase | |
| National Living Wage for Ages 21+ | £12.71 | £12.21 | £0.50 / 4.1% |
| 18 – 20 Year Old Rate | £10.85 | £10.00 | £0.85 / 8.5% |
| 16 – 17 Year Old Rate | £8.00 | £7.55 | £0.45 / 6% |
| Apprentice Rate | £8.00 | £7.55 | £0.45 / 6% |
| Accommodation Offset | £11.10 | £10.66 | £0.44 / 4.1% |
The Low Pay Commission have published their report alongside the publication of the forthcoming rate increases. The report sets out the rationale behind the increases and emphasises the intention to achieve a benefit for both the workforce as well as business owners.
Most notably, the Low Pay Commission state that those earning the NMW are facing day to day challenges of the rate of inflation and the general the cost of living, whereas businesses continue to feel the repercussions of the increased National Insurance Contributions which came into effect in April 2025.
Nina Gilroy comments:
The annual revision to the NMW rates always comes with a health warning for employers to review their rates of pay and, where necessary, increase hourly wages in line with minimum rates. It is also important to review working time for workers and employees on annual salaries to ensure that they do not fall foul of the minimum thresholds. The last list of shame published in October 2025 named 491 businesses in breach of the rules.
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