Pay levels and awards

New and updated

• Type:

  Survey analysis

  Pay awards: Public services

  Charts summarising pay awards across the public services sector monitored by the Brightmine pay databank.

• Type:

  Survey analysis

  Pay awards: Private-sector services

  Charts summarising pay awards across private-sector services organisations monitored by the Brightmine pay databank.

• Date:

  19 March 2025

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  Pay trends March 2025: Clear trend of lower pay awards than last year continues

  The Brightmine headline measure of pay awards remains stable in the three months to the end of February 2025, confirming the downward trend in pay settlement levels.

• Date:

  19 March 2025

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  Forecasts for pay awards in 2025

  At the start of 2025, pay awards have dropped to their lowest level since 2021 - but will this decline continue? Our latest data offers insights into expected pay deals for the year ahead and the key factors shaping them, from affordability to national insurance changes and the national minimum wage.

• Type:

  Quick reference

  National minimum wage

  Updated to reflect the new rates of the national minimum wage in force from 1 April 2025. 

• Date:

  19 February 2025

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  Pay trends February 2025: Pay awards drop back to lowest level since 2021

  January is a popular month for pay awards, providing insight into where settlements are likely to sit for the year ahead. Our latest data reveals a marked slowdown in pay growth.

• Date:

  29 January 2025

  Type:

  Podcasts and webinars

  Webinar: Navigating HR and reward priorities in 2025

  We share findings from the Brightmine research programme as well as top tips and practical guidance and share a detailed run-through of what HR can be doing now to prepare for future changes to employment law legislation.

• Date:

  22 January 2025

  Type:

  Survey analysis

  Pay trends January 2025: pay awards likely to decline this year

  As we enter 2025, pay awards are looking like they will continue to decline after sustaining high levels for the last two years.

• Date:

  6 January 2025

  Type:

  Commentary and insights

  Employment law 2025: Six key tasks for HR

  In 2025, HR professionals face the unique challenge of dealing with business-as-usual employment law changes, such as increases in statutory maternity, paternity and sick pay, while also beginning their preparations in earnest for the looming Employment Rights Bill. We look at what HR needs to do to meet its employment law obligations and prepare for the coming year

• Date:

  3 January 2025

  Type:

  News

  Cost of employing low-wage staff to hit record high

  The cost of employing low-wage workers will hit a record high in 2025, according to an analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies.