The latest figures from the Low Pay Commission reveal there were about 1.6 million workers paid at or below the minimum wage in April 2022, around 5% of all UK workers. This compared to 1.5 million jobs paid at or below the NMW in 2015, before the introduction of the national living wage.
While the rises will benefit many low paid workers, more than 12,000 businesses were already paying the higher real living wage in recognition of the high cost of living and in a bid to retain workers. The real living wage, set by the Living Wage Foundation, is £10.90 in the UK, and £11.95 in London.
