Economics
Study Notes
20 Years of the UK National Minimum Wage
- Level:
- GCSE, AS, A Level, IB
- Board:
- AQA, Edexcel, OCR, IB, Eduqas, WJEC
Last updated 7 Apr 2019
The UK minimum wage came into force in April 1999. For workers aged 25 and over, the minimum wage (now known as the National Living Wage) is £8.21 an hour.
Here are some links to resources and articles on the UK minimum wage.
The main collection of Tutor2u study resources on the minimum wage and related labour market issues can be found here - click this link
Recent articles:
Minimum wage: How high could the lowest salaries go? (BBC News)
Hamish McRae (Independent) on 20 years of the minimum wage (The Independent)
Minimum wage marks 20 years without negative impact on jobs (Financial Times)
How high can Britain’s minimum wage go? (The Economist)
Related tweets on the UK minimum wage
Weekend Reading: Some recent developments in #labour economics - With the #20thAnniversary of the introduction of the #minimumwage celebrated at the beginning of the week here is our Research Director @ProfPeterDolton paper:#NMW#NationalLivingWage https://t.co/C5Ldv8LNGy
— National Institute of Economic and Social Research (@NIESRorg) April 7, 2019
The National Minimum Wage was introduced to boost pay and it has done that in spades. The very lowest earners in the UK have consistently experienced the strongest pay growth https://t.co/Woh9y1gWZ6 pic.twitter.com/uq2bl4LAlT
— Resolution Foundation (@resfoundation) March 30, 2019
The minimum wage : a British success story. I remember the concerns raised re. unemployment when the NMW was introduced by Tony Blair. As @dsmitheconomics explains, reality did not mirror theory. What about wage compression? There must be a limit to the pay floor. pic.twitter.com/cGoUTDztZK
— G Clarke (@G_Conomics) April 7, 2019
'The National Minimum Wage is a remarkable success story – where next to tackle inequality?' – @Joe_Dromey writes https://t.co/lvKq1F03jB
— HuffPost UK (@HuffPostUK) April 6, 2019
Despite early scaremongering, the national minimum wage has had no discernible impact on employment https://t.co/0rtXPjWGSD
— Prospect Magazine (@prospect_uk) April 6, 2019
You might also like
Minimum Wage and Living Wage
Student Videos
A* Exam Technique: Evaluating impact of a higher minimum wage
Practice Exam Questions
Measuring a minimum income standard
29th July 2014
Low Pay in the Labour Market
Study Notes
Transport Gaps and Barriers to Finding Work
7th August 2018
Will there be a 'watering down' of the National Living Wage?
7th September 2016
Business Responses to the "new" UK Living Wage
24th April 2016
Recommended

Exam support for 2022
Online Grade Booster Courses for A-Level Exams in May & June 2022
Exam technique, advance information support, live revision and more from the tutor2u subject specialist teams