New CIJC pay rates confirmed for construction industry from 20 July 2026

The Construction Industry Joint Council has confirmed new minimum pay rates for the construction industry, coming into effect from Monday 20 July 2026. The rates, agreed between employers and trade unions through the CIJC Working Rule Agreement, set the baseline for pay across a range of classifications and are important for all NASC members employing operatives under the agreement.

The new basic minimum hourly rates from 20 July are as follows:

• General Operatives will receive 1,318 pence per hour, equivalent to £514.02 per week based on a 39-hour week.
• Skill Rate 4 rises to 1,330 pence per hour (£518.70 per week)
• Skill Rate 3 to 1,407 pence per hour (£548.73 per week)
• Skill Rate 2 to 1,504 pence per hour (£586.56 per week)
• Skill Rate 1 to 1,561 pence per hour (£608.79 per week).
• The Craft Rate moves to 1,640 pence per hour (£639.60 per week).

For apprentices, the new rates from 20 July are:

• 829 pence per hour in Year 1 (£323.31 per week)
• 880 pence per hour in Year 2 (£343.20 per week)
• 1,027 pence per hour in Year 3 without NVQ 2 (£400.53 per week).
• Apprentices in Year 3 holding NVQ 2 will receive 1,313 pence per hour (£512.07 per week), rising to 1,640 pence per hour (£639.60 per week) for those holding NVQ 3 or on completion with NVQ 2.

Employers should note that apprentices aged 19 to 20 in their second or final year of training must receive at least the National Minimum Wage, which from 1 April 2026 stands at £10.85 per hour. Apprentices aged 21 and over in their second or final year of training must receive at least the National Living Wage of £12.71 per hour. Both are enforceable by HMRC.

Also from 20 July, daily fare and travel allowances have been updated. Taxed travel allowances start at £1.44 for nine miles, rising to £12.42 for 50 miles. Untaxed fare allowances start at £6.09 for nine miles, rising to £23.66 for 50 miles. The full table of allowances is set out in the promulgation document.

The subsistence allowance from 20 July will be £53.69 per night and the industry sick pay, paid in addition to Statutory Sick Pay, will be £174.66 per week.

Looking ahead, the annual holiday entitlement will increase from 1 January 2027 by four hours, bringing the total to 23.5 days. A further four hours will be added from 1 January 2028, taking the entitlement to 24 days plus eight bank holidays. Where the management of an additional half day proves problematic, a payment of four hours in lieu of the additional holiday entitlement is permitted in 2027 only.

NASC members with questions about how these rates apply to their workforce should contact the CIJC directly by emailing: [email protected]