Research and analysis

20 years of the National Minimum Wage

A report by the Low Pay Commission on the history of the UK minimum wage and its effects.

• From: Low Pay Commission
• Published: 1 April 2019

Documents

20 years of the National Minimum Wage - A history of the UK minimum wage and its effects

PDF, 470 KB, 26 pages

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20 years of the National Minimum Wage - Data

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 92.2 KB

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Details

The National Minimum Wage was introduced on 1 April 1999 and in its 20 year history has transformed the UK’s labour market.

This report by the Low Pay Commission sets out the long-term effects of the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage, with new analysis of pay and employment data.

The report describes the history of the minimum wage in the UK, including the debates leading up to its introduction. It details how the LPC’s model of social partnership informs its advice to Government on the rates.

National Minimum Wage rates

Minimum wage rate	Rate to 31 March 2019	Rate from 1 April 2019
National Living Wage	£7.83	£8.21
21-24 Year Old Rate	£7.38	£7.70
18-20 Year Old Rate	£5.90	£6.15
16-17 Year Old Rate	£4.20	£4.35
Apprentice Rate	£3.70	£3.90
Accommodation Offset	£7.00	£7.55

Published 1 April 2019