Скачать или смотреть UK Minimum Wage Set to Rise in 2026 | National Living Wage Increase Explained | newsdrift

The UK’s National Living Wage is expected to rise by 4.1% in April 2026, according to the Low Pay Commission. In this video, we break down everything you need to know about the upcoming increase—from the new projected rate of £12.71 per hour to how it affects workers, employers, and the broader economy.

We’ll cover:

Why the minimum wage is increasing in 2026

What the new National Living Wage could be

Who benefits from the rise

Potential challenges for businesses and inflation

What comes next before the final decision in October 2025

Whether you’re an employee, business owner, or just staying informed, this video gives you the full story on the UK's living wage policy shift.

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In this video, we’re diving deep into a major development that will impact millions of workers and employers across the United Kingdom—the projected increase to the UK’s National Living Wage in 2026. The Low Pay Commission has just released its latest estimate, and it could mean a significant shift in the country’s wage structure, economy, and job market.

So what exactly is happening?

According to the UK’s Low Pay Commission, the National Living Wage, which is the legal minimum hourly pay for workers aged 21 and over, is expected to rise by about 4.1 percent in April 2026. That means the current minimum wage of £12.21 per hour, which was just raised in April 2025, could climb to approximately £12.71 per hour.

This forecast is part of the government’s broader goal to ensure the National Living Wage remains at two-thirds of median earnings. That policy aim has been in place for several years now, and it’s designed to help lower-paid workers keep up with the overall earnings growth in the economy.

Let’s break down what this potential increase really means.

A 4.1 percent rise may not sound like a dramatic jump at first glance, but for a full-time worker, this increase could translate to hundreds of pounds more each year. At £12.71 an hour, someone working 37.5 hours a week could earn just over £24,800 annually before tax. That’s a meaningful difference, especially for those in sectors like retail, hospitality, and cleaning—industries where the minimum wage is most common.

Right now, roughly 6.5 percent of UK workers are earning the minimum wage. And while this change would benefit those workers directly, it also has ripple effects across the broader economy.

So, why is this increase happening now?

Wage growth across the UK has been stronger than expected through the first half of 2025. Earlier projections had the minimum wage rising by just 3.6 percent, but new economic data and labor market trends have pushed that estimate higher. Although wage growth is forecast to slow from 5.1 percent in May 2025 to about 3.9 percent by the end of the year, and eventually settle around 3 percent in 2026, the two-thirds median earnings target keeps the pressure on to raise the minimum wage.

The Low Pay Commission has given a projected range for the new wage level. While £12.71 is the central estimate, the final figure could fall anywhere between £12.55 and £12.86 per hour, depending on how the economy performs over the next several months.

This projection is not final. The commission will spend the next few months reviewing economic data, consulting with employers and worker representatives, and analyzing wage trends before submitting a final recommendation to the government in October 2025. If approved, the new rate will come into effect in April 2026.