The number of employers paying the Oxford Living Wage has reached 200 for the first time, a milestone Oxford City Council confirmed. More than 33,800 workers across the city now receive at least £14.06 per hour under the voluntary scheme.
That rate puts an extra £2,600 in each worker’s pocket each year compared with those earning only the National Living Wage. It is set at 95% of the London Living Wage, a calculation the council updates every April based on research into the true cost of housing, food and transport in Oxford.
The scheme launched in 2018 because Oxford consistently ranks among the UK’s least affordable places to live. It began with around 70 vanguard employers and hit 100 during Living Wage Week. By October 2025 the total stood at 175, making the jump to 200 the largest number since the scheme launched.
Seven organisations joined most recently. The list includes Age UK Oxfordshire, whose chief executive Paul Ringer said paying the Oxford Living Wage reflects their commitment to fairness and truly valuing their people; Oxford Nanopore Technologies; the Royal Oxford Hotel; Pure Work Spaces Ltd; Asylum Welcome; Autism Champions CIC; and Rose Hill & Donnington Advice Centre. Any business that operates in Oxford can sign up for free and receives promotional support throughout the year.
Councillor Mark Lygo, cabinet member for a fairer, healthier Oxford, described the 200-employer mark as proof that local firms recognise paying properly is good for both workers and the wider city.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
