[UK] Wage advances climb by 10% under cost of living pressures

In the UK, new research has revealed that wage advances rose by 10 per cent this year, nearly tripling the nation’s 3.5 per cent inflation rate. Workers are increasingly relying on earned wage access (EWA) to mitigate the impact of the cost of living crisis, Fintech Finance News reports.

PayCaptain’s data shows that the UK’s average wage advance rose by 10 per cent in 2026, climbing from £119 in January to £130 in September and significantly exceeding the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rate of 3.5 per cent for the 12 months leading to September 2026. 

The leisure industry was reportedly the sector with the highest frequency of employees accessing emergency cash. 

In its report, PayCaptain cites findings from the Living Wage Foundation which state that only 10 per cent of low-paid workers can manage an unexpected £200 expense and 31 per cent reported no savings at all, rising from 24 per cent in 2025. 

The Foundation set a new hourly real Living Wage of £14.10 to address such pressures.

Simon Bocca - Founder and CEO of PayCaptain - said, "As the cost of living crisis continues to deepen, supporting employees’ financial wellbeing is not just about meeting obligations as an employer. Constant financial anxiety and poor mental health are not just personal issues - they impact your ability to perform at work and are a hidden tax on bottom-line performance. Supporting your workforce's financial wellbeing is part of being a high-performing business, protecting your people and culture in volatile economic times."

Source: Fintech Finance News

(Quote via original reporting)

In the UK, new research has revealed that wage advances rose by 10 per cent this year, nearly tripling the nation’s 3.5 per cent inflation rate. Workers are increasingly relying on earned wage access (EWA) to mitigate the impact of the cost of living crisis, Fintech Finance News reports.

PayCaptain’s data shows that the UK’s average wage advance rose by 10 per cent in 2026, climbing from £119 in January to £130 in September and significantly exceeding the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rate of 3.5 per cent for the 12 months leading to September 2026. 

The leisure industry was reportedly the sector with the highest frequency of employees accessing emergency cash. 

In its report, PayCaptain cites findings from the Living Wage Foundation which state that only 10 per cent of low-paid workers can manage an unexpected £200 expense and 31 per cent reported no savings at all, rising from 24 per cent in 2025. 

The Foundation set a new hourly real Living Wage of £14.10 to address such pressures.

Simon Bocca - Founder and CEO of PayCaptain - said, "As the cost of living crisis continues to deepen, supporting employees’ financial wellbeing is not just about meeting obligations as an employer. Constant financial anxiety and poor mental health are not just personal issues - they impact your ability to perform at work and are a hidden tax on bottom-line performance. Supporting your workforce's financial wellbeing is part of being a high-performing business, protecting your people and culture in volatile economic times."

Source: Fintech Finance News

(Quote via original reporting)