Annual increases to the national minimum wage
Rate rises
From 1 April 2022: (1) the national living wage (NLW) rate for workers aged 23 and over will rise from £8.91 to £9.50 per hour; (2) the national minimum wage (NMW) rate for workers aged 21 and 22 will rise from £8.36 to £9.18 per hour; (3) the NMW rate for workers aged 18 to 20 will rise from £6.56 to £6.83 per hour; (4) the NMW rate for workers aged 16 and 17 will rise from £4.62 to £4.81 per hour; and (5) the NMW apprentice rate will rise from £4.30 to £4.81 per hour (see Follow up ). The accommodation offset will also rise from £8.36 to £8.70 per day.
Pro advice. The age threshold for the NLW is still due to be lowered to workers aged 21 and over by 2024.
Pro advice. If you employ staff who are paid at NLW/NMW levels, it’s good practice to advise them of the government’s annual increases (see Follow up ).
Apprentices
The apprentice minimum wage rate is to rise by an inflation-busting 11.9%. The reason for this is because the government has equalised this rate with the NMW rate for workers aged 16 and 17.
Government press release
Letter providing NMW statement
Create your profile to unlock this advice and many more.