A majority of establishments (60.0%) raised wages for their lower-wage employees in 2024, continuing the upward trend seen over most of the past decade. However, the share was lower than in 2023 (81.3%), when more employers had adjusted wages to help workers cope with higher living costs.
The adoption of NWC’s guidelines for lower-wage employees remained modest at 26.2% in 2024. This was comparable to the period from 2021 to 2023 but lower than in most years from 2014 to 2020. The relatively lower adoption in recent years coincided with the expansion of the guidelines’ coverage and higher recommended wage increments, which may have raised implementation costs for establishments. Despite this, awareness of the 2024 guidelines remained stable, with about three in five establishments aware of them.
For more key findings, please refer to the highlights of the report.
Released on: 11 November 2025
