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Metro Detroiters weigh in on Target's lift to $15 hourly wage

Posted at 8:07 AM, Sep 26, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-26 08:07:45-04

"In a finite pool of employees out there, you have to set yourself apart from everybody else," said Matthew Mason a retail consultant at Conway MacKenzie of Target's latest initiative. 

The retailer announced on Monday that it would be bumping its hourly wage up to $15 dollars by the end of 2020 and $11 starting next month. 

Mason called it a smart business move, as the economy approaches full employment, creating an intense competition to attract new employees 

Analysts say Target is trying to remain on top in a head to head competition with Walmart -- which has also been inching up their pay over the last couple of years -- most recently from $9 to $10 an hour for employees. 

But Target's commitment to $15 is the highest from a large retailer thus far. When it goes into effect, it'll be more than double the federal minimum wage. 

Mason says he expects to see other retailers, namely Walmart, to eventually follow suit. 

And it all comes as the national push to raise the minimum wage grows louder, with several "fight for 15" protests taking place right here in metro Detroit. 

Some local Target shoppers told Channel 7 that they felt the retailer was moving in the right direction, that the pay gives them incentive and motivation to to work harder and stay with company for longer -- something they felt would ultimately translate into a better customer experience.