The UK government has increased the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, with 18-to-20-year-olds and 21-to-24-year-olds seeing their biggest rise in a decade.
More employers than ever will be directly affected by the increases, including those that currently pay above the minimum. The rates depend on age, with those aged 25 or over being entitled to the National Living Wage, but those under receiving the National Minimum Wage.
The new rates are as follows:
- 25 and over: £7.83 (US $10.81) an hour, up from £7.50 (US$10.36);
- 21 to 24: £7.38 (US$10.19), up from £7.05 (US$9.73);
- 18 to 20: £5.90 (US$8.15), up from £5.60 (US$7.73);
- Under 18: £4.20 (US$5.80), up from £4.05 (US$5.59);
- Apprentice: £3.70 (US$5.11), up from £3.50 (US$4.83).
Apprentices receive the apprentice rate if they are either aged under 19 or are in the first year of their apprenticeship. This means that an apprentice aged 22 in the first year of their apprenticeship would be entitled to a minimum hourly rate of £3.70 (US$5.11), for example. But after completing their first year, they would receive the minimum wage of £7.38 ($10.19) per hour.
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
The UK government has increased the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, with 18-to-20-year-olds and 21-to-24-year-olds seeing their biggest rise in a decade.
More employers than ever will be directly affected by the increases, including those that currently pay above the minimum. The rates depend on age, with those aged 25 or over being entitled to the National Living Wage, but those under receiving the National Minimum Wage.
The new rates are as follows:
- 25 and over: £7.83 (US $10.81) an hour, up from £7.50 (US$10.36);
- 21 to 24: £7.38 (US$10.19), up from £7.05 (US$9.73);
- 18 to 20: £5.90 (US$8.15), up from £5.60 (US$7.73);
- Under 18: £4.20 (US$5.80), up from £4.05 (US$5.59);
- Apprentice: £3.70 (US$5.11), up from £3.50 (US$4.83).
Apprentices receive the apprentice rate if they are either aged under 19 or are in the first year of their apprenticeship. This means that an apprentice aged 22 in the first year of their apprenticeship would be entitled to a minimum hourly rate of £3.70 (US$5.11), for example. But after completing their first year, they would receive the minimum wage of £7.38 ($10.19) per hour.
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
