Minister welcomes growth in Real Living Wage employers in Northern Ireland

The Economy Minister has welcomed the continued growth in the number of Real Living Wage Employers across Northern Ireland.

Over the past two years, the number of accredited Real Living Wage Employers here has risen from 82 to 212.

It follows the launch in 2024 of Living Wage NI - a partnership between Advice NI and the Living Wage Foundation, working to support employers to adopt fairer pay practices.

Speaking at the Imagine Belfast Festival, Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “I want to commend Advice NI and Living Wage NI for their continued leadership in promoting the Real Living Wage. These 212 employers collectively provide over 5,000 pay uplifts every year, demonstrating the impact of the movement on workers and households.

“It is encouraging to see so many employers stepping forward to ensure their staff are paid a wage that better reflects the cost of living. This uplift in accreditation shows real progress toward our ambition of creating more Good Jobs across the economy.”

The Minister continued: “I would encourage more employers to come onboard. Paying the Real Living Wage is not only the right thing to do - it is also good for business. It strengthens staff retention, enhances wellbeing and helps create a more resilient and productive workforce. I am grateful to the employers who have already made this commitment, and I hope many more will follow their lead.”

Living Wage NI, funded by the Department for the Economy, works to increase awareness and uptake of Real Living Wage accreditation among employers.

Mary McManus, Regional Manager of Living Wage NI, talked about the significance of the Living Wage movement. She said: “For 25 years, the real Living Wage movement has transformed fair pay in the UK. What began with low‑paid workers organising for fair pay in east London has become one of the most successful civil society campaigns of the 21st century. Today, over 16,000 UK employers, including 212 in Northern Ireland, are accredited. We urge more local employers to join them and commit to the standard for good work. With nearly one in six workers in NI still earning below the real Living Wage, fair pay matters now more than ever.”

Notes to editors:

1. The proportion of workers receiving the Living Wage has grown from 79% to 81% (a year-on-year increase of roughly 25,000 workers moving from below the Living Wage to at or above it).
2. Employers interested in becoming accredited can access guidance and support through Living Wage NI, delivered by Advice NI: www.adviceni.net/campaigns-projects/living-wage-ni.
3. The Real Living Wage—currently £13.45 per hour across Northern Ireland—is independently calculated by the Resolution Foundation for the Living Wage Foundation and reflects what people need to meet everyday living costs. This compares with the government's National Living Wage of £12.71 (from April 1, 2026), and which applies only to workers aged 21 and over.