This paper examines employment and hours impacts of the 1999 introduction of the UK
National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the 2016 introduction of the UK National Living
Wage (NLW) in Northern Ireland (NI). NI is the only part of the UK with a land border where
the NMW and NLW cover those working on one side of the border (NI) but not those
working on the other side of the border (Republic of Ireland). This discontinuity in minimum
wage coverage enables a research design that estimates the impacts of the NMW and NLW
on employment and hours worked using difference-in-differences. We find a small decrease
in the employment rate of 22-59/64 year olds in NI, of up to two percentage points, in the
year following the introduction of the NMW, but no impact on hours worked. We find no
evidence that the introduction of the NLW impacted either employment or hours worked
in NI
Is data on this page outdated, violates copyrights or anything else? Report the problem now and we will take corresponding actions after reviewing your request.