Starbucks to raise wages to $15 per hour minimum by next summer

Starbucks announced Wednesday it will raise wages for its U.S.-based baristas at least twice in 2022, bringing its pay floor to $15 an hour by next summer.

The announcement comes as bars and restaurants across the country struggle to find enough willing workers to staff their eateries as consumer demand rebounds. Domino’s Pizza, McDonald’s and Chipotle Mexican Grill, among others, say they faced labor shortages during the third quarter, denting sales.

Industry experts and economists have pointed to a number of factors that could explain the lack of workers, including concerns about Covid-19, child care difficulties and potential staff moving to jobs with higher pay.

Starbucks is also facing an effort to unionize by a handful of Starbucks cafes in Buffalo, New York. Employees are seeking to form a union to address issues that include chronic understaffing.