
The UK's National Living Wage is set to rise by 4.1% in April 2026, increasing from £12.21 ($16.24) to £12.71 ($16.90) per hour for workers aged 21 and over, as Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner pushes to boost pay and address discriminatory age bands.
This move, aimed at wooing younger voters, could see 18- to 20-year-olds earn the full adult rate, up from £10 ($13.30)per hour, but business leaders warn of job losses.