The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has opened its annual consultation on the National Living Wage (NLW) and wider minimum wage policy.
This year, the LPC is seeking evidence on the impact of the April 2026 increase, the effects on youth employment, and the outlook for apprenticeships. Full information on the consultation can be found here.
Your input is essential to ensure the LPC hears directly from employers about current cost pressures and how wage changes are affecting recruitment, retention, hours, pricing, and investment decisions. We are collating member feedback and practical examples to inform an evidence-based submission.
Below is a list of questions consider when giving feedback:
- The National Living Wage – What has been the impact of the NLW in the past year, particularly the most recent 4.1 per cent increase to £12.71 in April this year?
- Experience of those on low pay over the past year – Do you have any feedback on the ability of those on low pay to meet living costs, move to better paid work, or the interaction of Universal Credit and the NLW?
- Young people – What is the outlook for the recruitment and employment of workers aged under 21? What is driving employers’ decisions on this?
How have recent changes in the minimum wages for young people affected their employment prospects?
The Government remains committed to aligning the 18 to 20 Year Old Rate with the NLW. The LPC has full flexibility to recommend the pace and timing of that alignment. When do you think this should happen?
- Apprentices – What is the outlook for the recruitment and employment of apprentices? What are the drivers of employers’ decisions on this?
What do you expect the effects of the latest increase in the Apprentice Rate to be?
Please share any feedback, data, or case studies to our Head of Policy, Iain McNab, by Wednesday 15 May.
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16.04.2026
