Firms from Northern Ireland are being urged to feed directly into the UK’s next round of minimum wage decisions, with the Low Pay Commission consultation for 2026 now open. The consultation will shape recommendations for National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates from April 2027. The consultation is open until 26th June.
If your business is feeling the pressure of rising wage costs, recruitment challenges, or shifting labour market dynamics, this is your opportunity to influence policy.
From April 2026, the National Living Wage rose to £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over, alongside increases across all youth and apprentice rates.
These uplifts are part of a longer-term policy trajectory, with early estimates suggesting a further rise to £13+ in 2027.
For manufacturers, particularly those operating with tight margins, labour-intensive processes, or shift-based workforces, the cumulative effect is significant:
- Upward pressure on wage bills
- Knock-on impacts across pay structures
- Increased competition for entry-level and semi-skilled roles
- Pricing pressure and productivity trade-offs
The consultation is seeking real-world evidence from employers across the UK, including sectors not traditionally considered “low pay” but increasingly impacted by rising wage floors.
Key areas include:
- The impact of recent wage increases on costs, hiring and retention
- Labour market conditions and skills availability
- Productivity, automation and investment decisions
- The outlook for apprenticeships and entry-level roles
- Regional variations, including conditions specific to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s manufacturing base accounts for around one in ten jobs and over £6bn in output, making it a critical part of the regional economy.
Rising minimum wage rates do not exist in isolation. They intersect with:
- Energy cost volatility
- Skills shortages in key trades
- Cross-border labour dynamics
- Ongoing productivity and digital transition challenges
Without strong input from the sector, there is a real risk that policy decisions are shaped by incomplete or GB-centric evidence. Firms should prioritise submitting evidence, even if focused on a narrow set of issues where they have strong data or operational insight.
Short submissions are acceptable, but specific, evidence-based input carries the most weight. Submit your response before 26th June and ensure Northern Ireland manufacturing is properly represented in the evidence base.
You can respond to this consultation by submitting your responses using the online form or by emailing the Low Pay Commission at lpc@lowpay.gov.uk.