UK minimum wage to rise from April 2027

On 28 October 2026, as part of the Autumn Budget, the UK government announced new minimum wage rates that take effect from 1 April 2027. The government accepted in full the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission. ONLYWAY NEWS sets out every rate by age, drawing only on official GOV.UK material.

New rates from 1 April 2027

• National Living Wage (all workers aged 21 and over): £13.21 an hour — up 50p, or 3.9%;
• 18–20 year olds: £11.27 an hour — up 42p, 3.9%;
• 16–17 year olds: £8.31 an hour — up 31p, 3.9%;
• apprentices: £8.31 an hour — up 31p, 3.9%;
• Accommodation Offset (for employer-provided housing): £11.53 a day — up 43p, 3.9%.

Who it affects

The National Living Wage is the minimum an employer must pay any worker aged 21 or over. Younger workers and apprentices have their own, lower rates. Every rate rises by the same 3.9%.

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What the government decided

The 2027 rates were recommended by the independent Low Pay Commission, and the government accepted those recommendations in full. The Commission's remit still includes the government's aim of eventually lowering the age at which the full National Living Wage applies to 18.

When it takes effect

The new rates apply from 1 April 2027. The previous amounts continue to apply until then.

Source: official GOV.UK material (the government announcement and the Low Pay Commission publication).