Minimum wage set to rise to around £13.20 next April: what it means for your pay

If you're paid the legal minimum, a pay rise is likely on its way. The national living wage for workers aged 21 and over is expected to go up 3.9% from April 2027, from £12.71 to around £13.20 an hour, The Morning Advertiser reports. The Chancellor is due to confirm it alongside the Budget.

The numbers, as reported - 21 and over: £12.71 to around £13.20 an hour. - 18 to 20: also up 3.9%, from £10.85 to around £11.27. - On a 30-hour week, the over-21 rise is worth roughly £14.70 more before tax.

The catch for younger staff: the gap between the youth rate and the full rate is no longer closing as fast. Reports say this effectively ends the plan to bring the two together during this Parliament.

How the trade is reacting: UKHospitality said a smaller rise than rumoured was welcome, but that employer costs, especially national insurance, are still too high. The British Institute of Innkeeping warned some employers may cut hours and shifts rather than absorb more increases.

So what for you: nothing changes until April. Check your payslip then, and if you're 20 and turning 21 before or around April, ask when your rate moves up. If rotas start to shrink, talk to your manager early about the hours you need.