Home Depot said Tuesday it's investing $1 billion in wage increases for its U.S. and Canadian per hour workers.

The Atlanta-based house enhancement chain stated every per hour worker will get a raise beginning this month. Beginning pay will be at least $15 per hour in all markets.

Home Depot is one of lots of big sellers who have raised pay to draw in employees in a strong U.S. task market, where unemployment is at its least expensive level given that 1969. Walmart revealed in January that it would be raising its per hour wage to approximately $17.50, while Target invested $300 million in hourly wage increases last year.

The pay raises might likewise assist Home Depot head off a recently established campaign to unionize its shops, which it opposes. Workers at a Home Depot in Philadelphia submitted to hold a union election last September, saying employees weren't taking advantage of Home Depot's strong sales and shops were understaffed. Employees at the shop voted to reject the union in November.

Home Depot employs 437,000 people in the U.S. and 34,000 in Canada. The huge bulk are hourly staff members, the company stated. The company operates 2,000 stores in the U.S. and 182 shops in Canada.

" This investment will assist us attract and maintain the best skill into our pipeline," Home Depot's Chairman, President and CEO Ted Decker wrote in an email to staff members. Decker kept in mind that 90% of the chain's shop management began as hourly workers.

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