SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ–Big-box retailer Target Corporation is raising its minimum wage to $11 an hour, with plans to raise it to $15 by the end of 2020.
Target is reportedly competing to fill low-wage jobs as workers are in shorter supply amid a limited labor market.
Target, which employs about 323,000 people, said it will extend the new wage rate to current staff as well as “more than 100,000 hourly team members [it plans on] hiring for the holiday season.”
The move to “an $11 minimum hourly wage this fall,” said Target, “will provide pay increases to thousands of team members [at all stores in the Garden State] before the holiday season.”
By making a “significant investment” in its workers, the retailer said it will be able to “continue to recruit and retain strong team members and provide an elevated experience for its guests.”
The Minneapolis-based retailer has 1,816 stores and also sells merchandise on Target.com. Stores in this area include: North Brunswick, Milltown, South Plainfield, Edison, South Brunswick, Bridgewater, and East Windsor.
On the average, it employs 160 team members per store, and some 60% of employees live within 5 miles of their job.
Target currently pays workers rates above the federal minimum wage at all US stores, it said.
“Target’s last major wage increase was in 2016, when the company moved to a $10 minimum hourly wage,” it said.
Moreover, Target said it offers a variety of schedules to meet the needs of its employees and works with its teams to build schedules around their availability.
“Target posts store schedules in advance, allows store team members to trade and pick up shifts at their store location, and doesn’t do on-call or snap scheduling at its stores,” said the company.
Target offers employees a 10% merchandise discount at its stores and online, as well as an additional 20% “health and wellness discount” on fresh fruits and vegetables, all Simply Balanced products, and C9 merchandise.
Target said the move was tied to its holiday hiring plans.
“We’re investing to make sure that we recruit and retain the existing team, that we attract new team members and provide an exceptional service environment,” said Chief Executive Brian Cornell.
Aside from offering better pay, Cornell said that Target will provide the tools, training, and support crews new hires need to build their skills.
Dave is an award-winning business reporter who has authored over 200 articles for New Brunswick Today.
