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. source: Office for National Statistics

Average Earnings Excluding Bonus in the United Kingdom decreased to 3.40 percent in March from 3.60 percent in February of 2026. 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 May of 2026.

Average Earnings Excluding Bonus in the United Kingdom decreased to 3.40 percent in March from 3.60 percent in February of 2026. Average Earnings Excluding Bonus in the United Kingdom is expected to be 3.20 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
2026-04-21 06:00 AM
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr)
Feb 3.6% 3.8% 3.5% 3.7%
2026-05-19 06:00 AM
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr)
Mar 3.4% 3.6% 3.4% 3.6%
2026-06-18 06:00 AM
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr)
Apr 3.4% 3.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 3.40 3.60 percent Mar 2026
Average Weekly Hours 31.70 31.70 Hours Mar 2026
Claimant Count Change 26.50 4.90 Thousand Apr 2026
Employed Persons 34392.00 34328.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Employment Change 148.00 24.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Employment Rate 75.00 75.00 percent Mar 2026
Full Time Employment 25642.00 25584.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Inactivity Rate 20.90 21.00 percent Mar 2026
Job Vacancies 705.00 712.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 79.10 79.00 percent Mar 2026
Labour Costs 112.50 111.50 points Dec 2025
HMRC Payrolls Change -99.96 -28.22 Thousand Apr 2026
Part Time Employment 8750.00 8743.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Population 69.49 69.28 Million Dec 2025
Labour Productivity 99.99 99.10 points Mar 2026
Real Earnings Excluding Bonuses -0.20 0.00 percent Mar 2026
Real Earnings Including Bonuses 0.30 0.60 percent Mar 2026
Unemployed Persons 1672.40 1667.40 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployment Rate 5.00 4.90 percent Mar 2026
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.10 3.90 percent Mar 2026
Average Weekly Wages 749.00 746.00 GBP/Week Mar 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 819.00 816.00 GBP/Week Mar 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.70 14.30 percent Mar 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 3.60 7.90 -0.20 2001 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
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
UK Wage Growth Tops Estimates
Regular pay in the UK, excluding bonuses, rose 3.6% year-on-year to GBP 692 per week in the three months to February 2026, slowing from a 3.8% growth in the previous period but exceeding market expectations of 3.5%. It was the weakest increase since the three months to November 2020, with private sector wages slowing slightly to 3.2% from 3.3%, the lowest since the three months to October 2020. Also, public sector pay slowed to 5.2% from the prior 6.0%, the softest since early 2025. By industry, annual gains were seen in wholesale, retail, hotels, and restaurants (4.2%), manufacturing (3.5%), services (3.7%), construction (0.5%), and finance and business services (2.4%). Adjusted for inflation, real wages rose 0.2% in the three months to February, easing from a 0.2% gain in the previous period, the lowest since mid-2023.
2026-04-21
UK Wage Growth Below Estimates
Regular pay in the UK, excluding bonuses, rose 3.8% year-on-year to GBP 690 per week in the three months to January 2026, slowing from a marginally revised 4.1% gain in the previous period and falling short of market expectations of 4%. It was the weakest increase since the three months to November 2020, with private sector wages slowing slightly to 3.3% from 3.4%, the lowest since late 2020. Also, public sector pay slowed to 5.9% from the prior 7.2%, the weakest since mid-2025. By industry, annual gains were seen in wholesale, retail, hotels, and restaurants (4.8%), manufacturing (3.9%), services (3.9%), construction (2.0%), and finance and business services (2.0%). Adjusted for inflation, real wages rose 0.4% in the three months to January, following a 0.5% gain in the previous period, the lowest since mid-2023.
2026-03-19