What is the living wage?
The National Living Wage is the legal minimum hourly pay for workers aged 21 and over in the UK. From April 2026 it is £12.71 an hour. A separate, voluntary 'real Living Wage' is set by the Living Wage Foundation. It is £14.10 an hour, or £15.45 in London.
The government sets the National Living Wage each April, advised by the independent Low Pay Commission. In April 2026 it rose 4.1% to £12.71 an hour. Workers aged 18 to 20 get at least £10.85, and 16 to 17 year olds and apprentices £8.00. Employers who pay less are breaking the law and can be named and fined. The real Living Wage is different. It is worked out from what people actually need to live on. It was raised to £14.10, and £15.45 in London, in October 2026. Thousands of employers sign up to it voluntarily. Higher minimum pay helps low earners, but some businesses say it raises costs and can reduce hiring. The government aims to keep the National Living Wage at two thirds of typical hourly pay.
The left wants the minimum wage to keep rising and to match the real cost of living. Many also want the full rate for younger workers.
The right tends to support a minimum wage but warns that rises that are too fast can cost jobs, especially in small firms.
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Is the National Living Wage the same as the minimum wage?
It is the top rate of the national minimum wage, for workers aged 21 and over. Lower rates apply to younger workers.
Do employers have to pay the real Living Wage?
No. It is voluntary. Employers can choose to become accredited Living Wage employers.