Pay settlements

Pay awards remained at lowest level for four years as inflation levels increased by more than expected in January 2025.

Lidl is giving its 28,000 hourly-paid employees a pay rise from March 2025, ahead of the increase in the national living wage.

British employees are working 215.8 hours of overtime every year, with more than two in five (42%) doing so for free.

The average advertised salary in the UK has crossed £40,000 for the first time, according to the latest data from Adzuna.

Median pay rise for autumn 2024 declined to 3.3%, according to Brightmine, as national insurance change begins to have an impact.

Labour market statistics released in January 2025 show that real wages increased by 3.4% year on year, their quickest pace since 2021.

Supermarket chain Aldi increases pay for store assistants to at least £12.71 per hour nationally, from March 2025.

As the year draws to a close, Zoe Woolacott reviews how pay awards have tracked throughout 2024 and compares them to previous years.

The UK rate of inflation has hit its highest level in eight months, rising to 2.6% in the year to November.

Ministers have written to pay review bodies recommending a pay rise of 2.8% for public sector workers, prompting anger from unions.

Birmingham City Council agrees to settle 6,000 equal pay claims brought by both past and present staff four years after they were launched.

Private sector median pay awards have fallen slightly in the three months ending in October, from 4% to 3.9%.

The impact of the autumn budget means a high proportion of pay awards will be lower than expected in 2025,...

MoD announces new retention payments in ‘decisive action’ to tackle the long-term decline in Armed Forces numbers.

UK pay rises remained stagnant in the third quarter of this year, plateauing at 4%, according to data from Brightmine.