[Jersey] Higher Living Wage than London yet foodbank use is rising

In the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Living Wage is higher than London’s, yet its inhabitants continue to struggle with the cost of living, and a charity on the island has revealed that foodbank use is on the rise, ITVX reports.

Caritas Jersey, which sets the Living Wage rate in Jersey, has announced it will rise to £15.10 per hour for 2026, a 7 per cent increase from this year and 2 per cent higher than London's Living Wage. The Living Wage is calculated according to the cost of household goods and services.

The charity reportedly stated that this is the "minimum that islanders need in order to thrive and not just survive", although it is a voluntary scheme that employers can elect to sign up to.

From January 1, 2026, Living Wage rates will be as follows:

• £13.45 per hour across the UK

• £14.80 per hour in London

• £15.10 per hour in Jersey

The announcement of the new rate follows Jersey's Social Security Minister setting out plans to raise the mandatory minimum wage by 4.5 per cent to £13.59 from April 2026.

Despite the hike, the hourly rate will still lag well behind the Living Wage.

Patrick Lynch - Chief Executive Officer of Caritas Jersey - said, "The differential between the minimum wage and the Jersey Living Wage therefore remains worryingly high; something we feel assembly members should ponder as they debate the Budget this week and look ahead to next June's General Election.

"The Jersey Living Wage has never been as important as it is now for so many people, with poverty unfortunately still increasing and a continued rise in foodbank usage in our island."

Mr Lynch reportedly cited the example of one unnamed foodbank which saw the number of families using its services rise from 195 in February 2022 to more than 640 this year.

Source: ITVX

(Quote via original reporting)

In the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Living Wage is higher than London’s, yet its inhabitants continue to struggle with the cost of living, and a charity on the island has revealed that foodbank use is on the rise, ITVX reports.

Caritas Jersey, which sets the Living Wage rate in Jersey, has announced it will rise to £15.10 per hour for 2026, a 7 per cent increase from this year and 2 per cent higher than London's Living Wage. The Living Wage is calculated according to the cost of household goods and services.

The charity reportedly stated that this is the "minimum that islanders need in order to thrive and not just survive", although it is a voluntary scheme that employers can elect to sign up to.

From January 1, 2026, Living Wage rates will be as follows:

• £13.45 per hour across the UK

• £14.80 per hour in London

• £15.10 per hour in Jersey

The announcement of the new rate follows Jersey's Social Security Minister setting out plans to raise the mandatory minimum wage by 4.5 per cent to £13.59 from April 2026.

Despite the hike, the hourly rate will still lag well behind the Living Wage.

Patrick Lynch - Chief Executive Officer of Caritas Jersey - said, "The differential between the minimum wage and the Jersey Living Wage therefore remains worryingly high; something we feel assembly members should ponder as they debate the Budget this week and look ahead to next June's General Election.

"The Jersey Living Wage has never been as important as it is now for so many people, with poverty unfortunately still increasing and a continued rise in foodbank usage in our island."

Mr Lynch reportedly cited the example of one unnamed foodbank which saw the number of families using its services rise from 195 in February 2022 to more than 640 this year.

Source: ITVX

(Quote via original reporting)