What is the real Living Wage? 

What is the Living Wage?

The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based on the actual cost of living. It is voluntarily paid by employers and independently calculated to ensure that households earn enough to reach a minimum acceptable standard of living, as defined by the public. The rates are announced annually by the Living Wage Foundation (external website).

The real Living Wage is available to everyone aged 18 and over, and is currently set at £12.60 per hour. Employers can become accredited by the Living Wage Foundation to formally recognise their commitment to paying this rate.

Low pay in Greater Manchester

Low pay is a more significant issue in Greater Manchester than the national average. In 2024, 16.2% of jobs in Greater Manchester workplaces paid below the real Living Wage, compared to 15.7% across the UK. This equates to approximately 193,000 low-paying jobs in the region.

Who is most affected

Women are more likely to be in low-paid jobs in Greater Manchester. In 2024, out of 193,000 jobs paying below the real Living Wage, 113,000 were held by women and 80,000 by men.

The areas with the most amount of low-paid jobs were Tameside, Rochdale, and Oldham.

Further information

You find more information about low pay in the Labour Market and Skills Dashboard (external website).