Under-25s Struggling Due to Lower Pay

The Young Women’s Trust report, Paid Less, Worth Less?, reveals that more than a million young people under 25 are earning up to £3.45 an hour less than their older colleagues for performing the same roles. This equates to annual losses ranging from £820 to £6,300, since they are not entitled to the National Living Wage.

Apprentices Hit Hardest Financially

Apprentices suffer significantly because the legal minimum wage for apprentices is only £3.50 an hour. This leaves them earning £7.50 an hour less than those aged 25 and over—equivalent to losing £7,280 per year. Such a gap in pay forces many young learners into hardship, debt, and reliance on food banks.

Support for Raising Wages

A survey of 4,000 young people by the Trust found:

• 83% support increasing the apprentice minimum wage.
• 79% want the National Living Wage extended to under-25s.
• 59% favour abolishing university tuition fees.

Voices from the Frontline

“Young people are telling us day in, day out that they are struggling to make ends meet. They are falling into debt, using food banks in greater numbers, and their self-confidence is low. It’s no surprise when they are paid less for the same work,” says Carole Easton, Chief Executive of the Young Women’s Trust.

“We all need a basic amount of money to get by, no matter how old we are. The bus to work costs the same whether you’re 24 or 26. Gas and electricity cost the same, regardless of age. Rent doesn’t cost any less in your early twenties.”

Campaign for Change

The Trust has launched a campaign urging the government to:

• Ensure under-25s receive the same National Living Wage as all other workers.
• Significantly increase the apprentice minimum wage.
• Provide the right skills and support for young people to secure decent, flexible employment.
• Reform the law to guarantee equal pay rates, benefiting both businesses and the wider economy.