Young Women’s Trust have responded to today’s Budget announcement and the increase in the national minimum wage.
- The National Minimum Wage for over 21’s will rise by 6.7%, from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour.
- The National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds will see a 16% increase, from £8.60 to £10 per hour. This is the largest ever rise.
- These changes will take effect from April 2025.
Claire Reindorp, chief executive of Young Women’s Trust, said: “For the hundreds of thousands of young women who are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis, today’s announcement of an increase in the minimum wage will be a welcome one. Young women earn a fifth less than their male peers and are more likely to be in low-paid work, so for too long they’ve been at the sharp end of the financial crisis in this country.
“In our latest annual survey young women told us that their financial situation had got worse over the last 12 months, they’re falling behind on rent and bills, and they’ve been unable to afford food and essential supplies. Many have even resorted to using a foodbank for the first time so this extra support can’t come soon enough.
18-20 year olds don’t necessarily have lower living costs than over 21s. So while they’ll be glad of the largest ever rise, they urgently need to be given the same rate as older workers.”
Ends/
