Jersey living wage to rise to £15.10 in 2026, charity welcomes move

A social action charity in Jersey welcomed the decision to raise the living wage to £15.10 per hour in 2026, saying the move reflects the island’s evolving cost of living. The rate was approved this week and will take effect at the start of January 2026. The living wage sits £1.51 higher than Jersey’s minimum wage, which is set to rise to £13.59 per hour from April 2026.

Caritas Jersey chief executive Patrick Lynch said the higher rate would help workers at accredited organisations and their subcontractors cope with rising everyday costs. "This will be good news for many at accredited organisations and their subcontractors, ahead of the new year, when many people will have increased rental costs and also face increases in the cost of some utilities and other day to day expenses," he said. Lynch added that the Jersey Living Wage has never been as important as it is now, given ongoing poverty and a sustained rise in food bank usage. "Putting that in perspective, in February 2022 one food bank was seeing 195 families; that figure has now risen to over 640 families. The majority of the people who form this increase are people in work, on minimum or low wages," he said.

The decision comes as the gap between the minimum wage and the Jersey Living Wage remains worryingly high, a point Assembly members are urged to consider as they debate the island’s budget this week and look ahead to next June’s general election, according to Lynch. The living wage update underscores broader concerns about affordability in Jersey, including housing costs and utilities, which influence household budgets and demand for local services.

Alongside the wage update, officials noted that the minimum wage is scheduled to rise to £13.59 per hour from April 2026, a move designed to tighten the gap with the Jersey Living Wage. The changes arrive amid ongoing debates about how best to shield residents from rising living costs while supporting business competitiveness on the island.

The Jersey Living Wage is a benchmark aimed at ensuring workers in participating employers receive pay that covers the essentials of life in Jersey. By raising the rate, advocates say the policy helps address poverty pressures that affect both those able to work and those relying on public services. The broader question for policymakers remains how to sustain wage growth while managing inflation, housing demand, and the financial commitments of households across the island.