A Qualitative Study of Apprenticeship Pay: An IPPR report to the Low Pay Commission

Article

This report, commissioned by the Low Pay Commission, examines variations in apprentice pay across the UK and the role of apprentice pay in young people's decisions to start and complete an apprenticeship. The report also considers the potential responses of employers to the introduction of a national minimum wage for apprentices.

Although most apprentices are employed, the majority are exempt from National Minimum Wage legislation, and pay rates for apprentices vary significantly across different industries and by gender and age. The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has been asked by Government to consider how apprentice pay could be brought under the National Minimum Wage framework.

This report is concerned primarily with employed apprentices aged 16 to 24 working in hairdressing, retail, early years childcare, hospitality and social care - all low-paying sectors employing mainly female apprentices. We also looked at the engineering sector for comparison, as apprentice pay is normally higher here and the vast majority of apprentices are male. The findings presented in this report are based on focus group and survey research with apprentices and other young people across the UK, plus interviews with employers, training providers and careers advisers.

Related items

  1. A young woman with a long ponytail sits looking out of a bus window

    State of the North 2025 - The kids aren't alright: How to deliver for young people in the North

    This year’s State of the North report highlights how regional inequality exacerbates the growing challenges facing many young northerners. 
  2. An illustration of an ideal public transport system: a smiling family cross a road near a green bus with houses and trees in the background

    The transport challenge for low-income households

    Many people living on low incomes in the UK are limited in their ability to access the building blocks of a good life because of poor transport provision.

  3. Towards universal opportunity for young people

    Outlining a vision for young people which could increase social mobility while also reducing inequality and disadvantage, so that every young person has the opportunity to build a decent life.