Walmart Hawai’i Makes Workforce Investment

Walmarts throughout the country and state will reap the benefits of $2.7 billion being poured into the company’s United States stores over the next two years.

In Hawai’i alone, an amount totaling $950,000 will be invested into local store branches with the addition of 820 additional raises for associates.

Walmart officials say the money is assisting with the increase in full-time average hourly wages that will be increased to $15.38 an hour by February 2016 and $11.68 an hour for part-time associates. All associates currently earn a minimum of $10 an hour.

Throughout the country, Walmart has also made recent pay increases, raising the start rate to a $9 minimum an hour and providing specialized positions with an increase in wages.

“We commend Walmart’s initiative to provide pay raises to its employees., said Chamber of Commerce Hawai’i President & Chief Executive Officer Sherry Menor-McNamara. “This, along with offering career and training opportunities to its workforce, subsequently contributes to a greater quality of life for their employees. This is a positive step and shows that Walmart is committed to investing in its workforce, as well as the community.”

Since its first pay wage increase, Walmart’s customer experience scores and associate engagement number has increased, according to officials. During its third quarter earnings, the company announced that its U.S. comp-stores sales were positive for the fifth consecutive quarter and customer traffic had remained positive for the fourth quarter in a row.

Walmart says it’s also “opening doors for existing and new associates by increasing scheduling flexibility and providing new training opportunities for continued advancement beyond entry-level jobs.”