Minimum Wage Rises for Young Workers and Adults in UK
UKPulse Local Desk
Minimum wage rates have increased for workers across different age groups in the UK, with 16-year-olds now entitled to £8 an hour and adults aged 21 and over receiving £12.71 an hour.
- 16-year-olds are entitled to earn £8 an hour under UK minimum wage laws.
- The minimum wage for 18-year-olds has increased to £10.85 an hour.
- Workers aged 21 and over are entitled to the full adult minimum wage of £12.71 an hour.
Minimum wage entitlements in the UK have seen increases across various age brackets. As of today, 16-year-olds are entitled to a minimum of £8 an hour. Those earning over £242 a week from a single job may also be required to pay National Insurance.
For individuals aged 18, the minimum wage has risen to £10.85 an hour. This age also marks eligibility for claiming benefits such as Universal Credit, provided they are not in education and have a low income or are out of work, though payments are lower for under-25s.
The full adult minimum wage, currently set at £12.71 an hour, applies to workers aged 21 and over.
What this means for you: If you are 16, you are entitled to earn £8 an hour. If you are 18, your minimum wage entitlement is £10.85 an hour. If you are 21 or older, you are entitled to the full adult minimum wage of £12.71 an hour.