News » HR Zone news » National Minimum Wage to rise to £11.44 from April
November 22nd 2023
Employers should prepare for a 15.2% average increase in the minimum wage from April 2024.
Rates of the NMW for employees aged 21 and over rise to £11.44 from April.
The increases across all age bands are as follows:
| NMW rate from 1 April 2024 | Increase in pence | Percentage increase | |
| National Living Wage (21 and over) | £11.44 | £1.02 | 9.8% |
| 18-20 year old rate | £8.60 | £1.11 | 14.8% |
| 16-17 year old rate | £6.40 | £1.12 | 21.2% |
| Apprentice rate | £6.40 | £1.12 | 21.2% |
| Accommodation offset | £9.99 | £0.89 | 9.8% |
The government says that this is the largest ever increase in the minimum wage in cash terms and the first time it has increased by more than £1. The size of this increase is driven by the strength of pay growth across the economy, which is forecast to continue into next year.
Low Pay Commission Chair Bryan Sanderson said: "Costs in most sectors have continued to rise, and... firms in low-paying sectors are more worried about reduced consumer demand, costs of energy and the cost of labour than firms in other sectors.
"At the same time, the low-paid workers we spoke to this year painted a picture of growing hardship. We believe our recommendation will restore the real value of the NLW, which has been eroded through the recent cost of living crisis. Our judgement is that this increase will not cause significant risk to employment prospects."
Alongside the NLW, the LPC has recommended large increases to NMW rates for young workers and apprentices. These increases reflect the strength of the youth labour market and aim to prevent the wage floor for young people being cut adrift from prevailing wage rates in the wider labour market.
