Apple raises starting wage for American workers to $22 an hour

(CNN) — Apple will increase the starting pay of its American employees, the iPhone maker said on Wednesday, as companies face a tight job market and increased unionization efforts amid rising inflation.

Starting pay for the company’s American team members will rise to $22 an hour, or more depending on the market, a 45% increase from 2018 levels, Apple said in a statement sent to Reuters.

“This year, as part of our annual performance review process, we are increasing our global compensation budget,” a company spokesman said.

Apple informed some workers that their annual reviews would be moved up three months and that the new pay would take effect in early July, said The Wall Street Journal, which was first to report on the compensation changes.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for more details about the compensation changes.

Cupertino, California-based Apple is known for its secretive culture, but last year some current and former workers began criticizing the company’s working conditions online.

In April, workers at the Apple store in Atlanta petitioned for a union election, seeking to become the company’s first US store in unionize amid a wave of work activity at other major firms.

Google and Microsoft are among the tech companies that have revised performance reviews or adjusted pay this year in their fight to retain workers.