April 2026 Update: National Minimum Wage and Employer Cost Changes

From April 2026, UK employers will see further increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, continuing the Government’s focus on raising pay for lower income workers. These changes build on last year’s increases, alongside ongoing adjustments to Employer National Insurance contributions and thresholds.

National Living Wage increases

The National Living Wage (for workers aged 21 and over) will rise to £12.71 per hour from April 2026. This represents a further uplift on the 2025 rate and reflects the Government’s continued commitment to aligning wages with the cost of living.

Updated National Minimum Wage rates

Younger workers and apprentices will also benefit from increases:

These changes represent a notable step up across all age groups, with particularly strong percentage increases for younger workers.

What this means for employers

For a full-time employee working:

• 37.5 hours per week – minimum annual salary will now be £24,785

• 35 hours per week – minimum annual salary will be £23,132

These increases will have a direct impact on payroll costs, particularly for businesses with a large proportion of minimum wage workers. Employers should also continue to factor in the cumulative effect of recent National Insurance changes when planning budgets for the year ahead.

Further information

For full details and official guidance, visit the UK Government website:
https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates

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