Rate of record
UK minimum wage 2021
On 1 April 2021 the NLW threshold dropped from 25 to 23. Approximately 2 million more workers became NLW-eligible from that one rule change.
Rates effective 1 April 2021
- NLW (then-current threshold): £8.91/hr
- 18-20 (or development rate): £6.56/hr
- 16-17: £4.62/hr
- Apprentice: £4.30/hr
- Accommodation offset: £8.36/day
Primary source: gov.uk announcement
Uplift vs 1 April 2020
- NLW: +2.2% (£0.19)
- 18-20: +1.7%
- 16-17: +1.5%
- Apprentice: +3.6%
Context
The 23+ threshold was a stepping stone to the eventual 21+ threshold (2024). The cash uplift was modest (2.2% NLW) because of pandemic-era earnings caution at the LPC.
NLW threshold dropped from 25+ to 23+. Approximately 2 million additional workers became NLW-eligible.
Full ledger including this year
| Effective | 21+ NLW | YoY | 18-20 | 16-17 | Apprentice | Offset / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 2026 | £12.71 | +4.1% | £10.85 | £8.00 | £8.00 | £11.10 |
| 1 April 2025 | £12.21 | +6.7% | £10.00 | £7.55 | £7.55 | £10.66 |
| 1 April 2024 | £11.44 | +9.8% | £8.60 | £6.40 | £6.40 | £9.99 |
| 1 April 2023 | £10.42 | +9.7% | £7.49 | £5.28 | £5.28 | £9.10 |
| 1 April 2022 | £9.50 | +6.6% | £6.83 | £4.81 | £4.81 | £8.70 |
| 1 April 2021 | £8.91 | +2.2% | £6.56 | £4.62 | £4.30 | £8.36 |
| 1 April 2020 | £8.72 | +6.2% | £6.45 | £4.55 | £4.15 | £8.20 |
| 1 April 2019 | £8.21 | +4.9% | £6.15 | £4.35 | £3.90 | £7.55 |
| 1 April 2018 | £7.83 | +4.4% | £5.90 | £4.20 | £3.70 | £7.00 |
| 1 April 2017 | £7.50 | +4.2% | £5.60 | £4.05 | £3.50 | £6.40 |
| 1 April 2016 | £7.20 | - | £5.30 | £3.87 | £3.30 | £5.35 |
| 1 October 2015 | - | - | £5.30 | £3.87 | £3.30 | £5.35 |
| 1 April 1999 | - | - | £3.00 | - | - | - |