An estimated 7% of all jobs are paid at one of the minimum wage rates

The Low Pay Commission estimates that there were 2 million workers paid at minimum wage in April 2019 (National Minimum Wage Statistics, October 2020). This compares to 1.5 million jobs paid at the NMW in 2015, before the introduction of the National Living Wage. The totals for both years cover around 7% of all UK employees showing that coverage has remained relatively flat, despite concerns from employers that an increasing basic rate would lead to a bunching of more workers earning it and a destruction of wage differentials.