NMW to rise to £11.44 per hour in April 2024

[MikeRafone]

Good news for those on NMW, as there wages will rise from £10.42 to £11.44

This is a big rise before a general election...

Tbh I don't know any students earning the lower amount. All the kids round here earn the full rate, they have to pay it, otherwise wouldn't' get any staff!

Sad state of affairs if nurses wages are so worthless now.

Im happy for my son - he is in a small business but they can well afford it!

Change job?

All these complaints. Why don’t people up their money and get a different job then?

You could be cynical and say it is electioneering, but it was in their manifesto. A rare case of actually fulfilling a promise!

The impact on the childcare sector will be bad. The knock on effect to working (usually mothers) will make working untenable for many. Even if childcare is subsidised we will loose many childminders

Good childcare professionals are qualified experienced and have huge responsibilities. Im self employed and haven't put my prices up in 10 years, im on less than minimum wage work very hard and still have to listen to people moan my services cost too much.

And what about the effects on schools? In particular SEND children where they need 1:1 support. Already LAs don't pay enough to cover this for the kids who need it. This will be devastating for SEND provision.

The “just change jobs” or “just get promoted” ideas have been quite thoroughly debunked even on mumsnet. It’s really not as simple and what always frustrates me is this notion that everyone can and should get a better job all the time and progress in a linear fashion.

We do actually need cleaners, warehouse operatives and shop workers. We can’t just say to the entire cohort of low earners, “ just do a different job then”

Because NMW has set a floor, and in may roles a ceiling for earnings.

NMW, combined with Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance, is also instrumental in setting the housing costs for anyone in the private rental or small purchased starter-home sector. Rentals and FTB purchasing costs literally expand to take up any extra earnings from NMW increases.

Yes because its as simple as that 🙄 thank god I haven't got to worry about finding one in an competitive niche industry, or childcare arrangements or location. Tomorrow - poof new job problem solved.

Something in the arts probably. Museum curator, possibly. Ridiculously poorly paid industry.

I must be! Didn't mean to be snippy, I'm just surprised that any professional jobs pay that little. I have a professional job and we pay our trainees more than that!

@KnittedCardi not all 18-20 year old workers are students. Some are full time and may not have the support of a stable home life to support their low wages and it doesn't give those who do have but want to spread their wings anyway the springboard into adult independence. There are companies which pay staff differently according to age and it shouldn't be legally allowed.

I quite accepted at age 16-18 that I wasn't worth as much as someone who'd been doing the job for 20 years more than me. I also didn't have a mortgage, kids etc. to pay for. Anything I earned went on clothes, records and going out.

I was also a bit of an arse at work and probably cost my employers a lot of money on top of my wages.

Interestingly, he is telling loads more people they can have ‘free’ childcare next year but he then decides to then raise the wages of the lowest paid (many nursery workers), meaning even more childcare providers will close their doors unable to make ends meet! There will be a large number of very disappointed people next year expecting free/cheap childcare who just won’t be able to find it.

I have a professional, highly qualified & skilled job, with a minimum requirement of at least 1 post graduate qualification (I have 3). I have to have a practicing certificate to do what I do, and belong to a professional body. I earn £34 pa FTE.

It's great that the minimum wage is going up, it is needed. But Britain is a low wage country in general and it's disingenuous to pretend that professional jobs = well paid jobs. In many sectors that isn't the case at all.

You don't have to be in the competitive niche industry. That's all I'm saying. No one is forcing you down this route if it's not well paid.

If they want to do a different job why shouldn't they? Just because the rest of society needs my skills doesn't mean I have to provide them

So everyone expecting free childcare in April will be shocked to discover no one wants to accept the funding when it's value has been even further eroded.

Personally (maybe selfishly) I'm incredibly pleased. It's hard on a single income to pay mortgage and bills and will make a difference with everything that's gone up

Thank you OP for calling it the National Minimum Wage, which is what is should be referred to, instead of its official title. It is not a living wage by any means.

@Namenotavailableagain no UC and no benefits here
Why does everyone think that either everyone gets UC as a low earner or that everyone has children and therefore gets it?!
It's like single min wage earners don't exist
I get 25% council tax discount

If anyone wants to try paying alone for a mortgage, car and bills on just under 24k a year and moan it's too much then feel free

It's great. But I think the government need to really rethink wages in the armed forces, NHS etc. Many of these jobs aren't paid near enough for the responsibility, and this won't help with staff retention.

I work in a nursery, currently on 50 odd pence over minimum wage so my wage will go up. Unfortunately it'll put me over the personal allowance so I'll start paying tax (not that I begrudge it especially as it'll be a small amount.)

Sadly, I can see nurseries closing down over this- especially independents or small chains. Staff are generally on minimum wage or just above, government are rolling out more 'funded' hours that they aren't actually funding properly... just doesn't add up. So tricky though, because the staff certainly deserve a good chunk more than minimum wage!

Carers who look after the elderly are sadly on minimum wage. With a lot of responsibility. Often working 12 hours days.