UK minimum wage to rise by 3.9% from 1 April 2027

What has been announced

The GOV.UK press release, published by the Low Pay Commission (LPC), states: “The Government has today announced increases to minimum wage rates from April 2027.” It also says that the government has accepted the Commission’s recommendations in full.

The press release contains no quote from a minister. The only person quoted is the Chair of the LPC, Baroness Philippa Stroud.

The GOV.UK rates page states that the rates change every year on 1 April. The 2027 rates are already listed there.

New rates from 1 April 2027

• Aged 21 and over (National Living Wage): £13.21 an hour instead of the current £12.71, that is, 50p more.
• Workers aged 18-20: £11.27 instead of £10.85, that is, 42p more.
• Young people aged 16-17: £8.31 instead of £8.00, that is, 31p more.
• Apprentices: £8.31 instead of £8.00, that is, 31p more.
• Accommodation offset: rising by 43p to £11.53 a day. This is the amount an employer who provides accommodation can count towards the minimum wage.

According to the LPC, pay is rising by 3.9% for all groups.

What this comes to over a year

Our calculation, not government figures. Suppose a worker works 37.5 hours a week for 52 weeks a year, that is, 1,950 hours:

• A worker aged 21 or over would earn £24,784.50 now and £25,759.50 at the new rate. The difference: £975 a year.
• For a worker aged 18-20 the difference would be £819 a year.
• For a young person aged 16-17 or an apprentice the difference would be £604.50 a year.

These are gross amounts, before Income Tax and National Insurance contributions. The actual amount depends on the number of hours worked.

What is worth knowing

• The date. The new rates apply from 1 April 2027. Until then the current rates apply: £12.71, £10.85 and £8.00.
• This is the lowest limit. The minimum rate sets the lowest hourly pay allowed. If you already earn more than the new rate for your age group, this decision will not in itself change your pay (our explanation).
• For those living in accommodation provided by their employer. If your employer deducts accommodation costs from your pay, from 1 April they will be able to count no more than £11.53 a day towards the minimum wage.
• Payslip. When you receive your first pay after 1 April 2027, check your payslip: your hourly pay must be no lower than the rate for your age group.
• The official rates are always published on the GOV.UK minimum wage page.

“Londono Žinios” will report when more information is published about how the new rates will be applied.

Based on: the Low Pay Commission press release “LPC recommendations take the National Living Wage to £13.21” on GOV.UK (28 October 2026); the GOV.UK page “National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates” (updated 2 November 2026).

Republication must credit Londonozinios.com as the source.