UK regular pay, excluding bonuses, increased 3.4% year-on-year to GBP 699 per week in the three months to May 2026, matching the pace seen in the previous two periods and meeting market expectations. However, it remained the weakest annual growth since the three months to October 2020. Private sector wage growth eased slightly to 2.9% from 3.0%, the slowest since the three months to October 2020. Meanwhile, public sector pay accelerated to 5.5% from 5.1%, marking the strongest increase since the three months to January. By industry, wages rose in wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants (3.6%), manufacturing (2.8%), services (3.7%), and finance and business services (2.3%), but declined in construction (-0.2%). After adjusting for inflation, real regular pay increased 0.3%, up from 0.1% in the prior two periods and the strongest growth since the three months to January. source: Office for National Statistics

Average Earnings Excluding Bonus in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 3.40 percent in May. Average Earnings Excluding Bonus in the United Kingdom averaged 3.38 percent from 2001 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 7.90 percent in August of 2023 and a record low of -0.20 percent in June of 2020. This page includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom Average Earnings Excluding Bonus YoY. United Kingdom Average Earnings Excluding Bonuses YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Average Earnings Excluding Bonus in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 3.40 percent in May. Average Earnings Excluding Bonus in the United Kingdom is expected to be 2.90 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Average Earnings Excluding Bonuses YoY is projected to trend around 2.30 percent in 2027 and 2.20 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-18 06:00 AM
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr)
Apr 3.4% 3.4% 3.2% 3.3%
2026-07-21 06:00 AM
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr)
May 3.4% 3.4% 3.4% 3.4%
2026-08-18 06:00 AM
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr)
Jun 3.4% 3.2%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 3.40 3.40 percent May 2026
Average Weekly Hours 31.90 31.80 Hours May 2026
Claimant Count Change 6.70 1.30 Thousand Jun 2026
Employed Persons 34475.00 34411.00 Thousand May 2026
Employment Change 148.00 99.00 Thousand May 2026
Employment Rate 75.10 75.10 percent May 2026
Full Time Employment 25695.00 25664.00 Thousand May 2026
Inactivity Rate 20.90 21.00 percent May 2026
Job Vacancies 712.00 710.00 Thousand May 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 79.10 79.00 percent May 2026
Labour Costs 112.50 111.50 points Dec 2025
HMRC Payrolls Change -3.86 2.83 Thousand Jun 2026
Part Time Employment 8780.00 8748.00 Thousand May 2026
Population 69.49 69.28 Million Dec 2025
Labour Productivity 99.99 99.10 points Mar 2026
Real Earnings Excluding Bonuses 0.40 0.50 percent May 2026
Real Earnings Including Bonuses 0.50 1.70 percent May 2026
Unemployed Persons 1681.90 1680.60 Thousand May 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.90 4.90 percent May 2026
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.30 4.40 percent May 2026
Average Weekly Wages 749.00 754.00 GBP/Week May 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 812.00 823.00 GBP/Week May 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.80 14.50 percent May 2026


United Kingdom Average Earnings Excluding Bonuses YoY
In the United Kingdom, Average Earnings Excluding Bonuses refers to changes in average weekly earnings, before tax and other deductions and excluding bonuses.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.40 3.40 7.90 -0.20 2001 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
UK Wage Growth Steady at 3.4%
UK regular pay, excluding bonuses, increased 3.4% year-on-year to GBP 699 per week in the three months to May 2026, matching the pace seen in the previous two periods and meeting market expectations. However, it remained the weakest annual growth since the three months to October 2020. Private sector wage growth eased slightly to 2.9% from 3.0%, the slowest since the three months to October 2020. Meanwhile, public sector pay accelerated to 5.5% from 5.1%, marking the strongest increase since the three months to January. By industry, wages rose in wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants (3.6%), manufacturing (2.8%), services (3.7%), and finance and business services (2.3%), but declined in construction (-0.2%). After adjusting for inflation, real regular pay increased 0.3%, up from 0.1% in the prior two periods and the strongest growth since the three months to January.
2026-07-21
UK Wage Growth Tops Forecasts
Regular pay in the UK, excluding bonuses, rose 3.4% year-on-year to GBP 697 per week in the three months to April 2026, matching March's pace while exceeding market expectations of 3.2%. It remained the weakest increase since the three months to October 2020, with private sector wages slowing to 2.9% from 3.1%, the lowest since the three months to October 2020. Meanwhile, public sector pay accelerated to 5.1% from the prior 4.8%, which had been the softest since late 2024. By industry, annual gains were seen in wholesale, retail, hotels, and restaurants (3.5%), manufacturing (3.1%), services (3.6%), and finance and business services (2.5%), but declined for construction (-0.7%). Adjusted for inflation, real wages edged up 0.1% in the three months to April, keeping the same pace as in the previous period and staying at the lowest level since mid-2023.
2026-06-18
UK Wage Growth Slows to Over 5-Year Low
Regular pay in the UK, excluding bonuses, rose 3.4% year-on-year to GBP 693 per week in the three months to March 2026, easing from a 3.6% growth in the previous period and matching market expectations. It was the weakest increase since the three months to October 2020, with private sector wages slowing to 3.0% from 3.2%, the lowest since the three months to October 2020. Also, public sector pay moderated to 4.8% from the prior 5.2%, the softest since late 2024. By industry, annual gains were seen in wholesale, retail, hotels, and restaurants (3.6%), manufacturing (3.2%), services (3.6%), and finance and business services (2.4%), but declined for construction (-0.6%). Adjusted for inflation, real wages edged up 0.1% in the three months to March, after a 0.2% gain in the previous period, the lowest since mid-2023.
2026-05-19