Pay and benefits

New and updated

• Type:

  Economic data

  Average earnings

  Updated to include official earnings data from the ONS for January 2026. The next ONS release date is 21 April 2026. 

• Date:

  18 March 2026

  Type:

  Podcasts and webinars

  Podcast: Pay reviews in 2026 - balancing budgetary pressures and employee expectations

  With early pay awards showing signs of growth, Sheila Attwood joins the podcast to dig into what the data tells us about pay award plans for the year ahead, and how employers can navigate the growing tension between affordability and employee expectations.

• Type:

  Editor's choice

  Survey analysis and Benchmarking data: The complete list

  Updated to include new benchmarking survey data on pay awards March 2026, and pay forecasts for 2026. 

• Type:

  Economic data

  Pay awards

  Updated to include the Brightmine pay settlement data for the three months to the end of February 2026. Brightmine will publish the next pay figures on 22 April 2026. 

• Date:

  18 March 2026

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  Pay trends March 2026: Pay awards edge up in early 2026 but outlook remains cautious

  The UK median pay award for the three months to February 2026 edged up slightly to 3.3%, although this level of pay growth is not expected to be sustained across the year.

• Date:

  18 March 2026

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  Pay award forecasts for 2026

  The first pay awards of 2026 have shown some growth compared with 2025, but is this new year boost likely to last the year? We look in detail at organisations' pay award plans for the coming 12 months.

• Type:

  Employment law guide

  Pay As You Earn

  On 2 March 2026, the Government released a revised starter checklist to include the new student loan plan (Plan 5). Employers must ensure they are using the most current starter checklist when onboarding new staff. 

• Type:

  Quick reference

  State pension rates

  Updated to reflect the state pension rates for 2026/2027. Employers may use these updated figures to support employees in planning for retirement. Additionally, there may be cases where employees choose to work beyond state pension age. In such situations, if an employee is receiving a state pension, it could affect payroll processes, particularly regarding national insurance contributions. 

• Type:

  Quick reference

  National insurance lower earnings limit

  Updated to include the rate of the lower earnings limit for 2026/27. Employers will need to review payroll systems and ensure statutory pay is applied correctly.

• Type:

  Quick reference

  National minimum wage

  Updated with the national minimum wage rates in force from 1 April 2026, so employers can review pay and update payroll systems.