National Living Wage Rises to £12.71 per Hour from April 2026
The UK's statutory minimum wage for workers aged 21+ increased by 4.1% on 1 April 2026. Younger workers also saw significant increases, but the rate still falls short of the voluntary Real Living Wage for cost-of-living adequacy.
Latest rates now in effect
The National Living Wage (NLW) rose by 4.1 per cent in April 2026 to £12.71 per hour. Workers on the National Minimum Wage aged between 18 and 20 saw an 8.5% rise to £10.85 an hour, and 16 to 17-year-olds saw a 6% increase, bringing their minimum wage up to £8 an hour.
From 1 April 2026, over 3 million UK workers received a pay rise as the National Living Wage increased to £12.71 per hour, the largest adult rate in the scheme's history. The government expects this rate to stay ahead of changes in the cost of living up to March 2027 and therefore provide an increase in real terms for minimum wage workers.
Gap to real cost of living remains
The Living Wage Foundation welcomes the increase to £12.71 per hour from 1 April 2026, but notes it will still leave the UK's lowest paid workers short of what's needed for a decent standard of living. A full-time UK worker on the National Living Wage would need to be paid £1,443 more to bring their income in line with a real Living Wage—enough to pay for four months of food or three months of transport costs.
Implications for expat workers and employers
If you're earning minimum wage as an expat employee, your pay rose automatically on 1 April—check your payslip to confirm your employer applied the correct rate. HMRC penalties for underpayment can reach 200% of arrears, capped at £20,000 per worker. For employers sponsoring workers on Skilled Worker visas, note that this is the floor, not the ceiling; sponsored roles must meet occupation-specific going rates, which are typically higher. If you're planning to live on a minimum wage in London or the South East, budget carefully: you'll still be £4,000+ below the real Living Wage.
Sources
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