Aldi Bumps Wages; Eyes 20,000 New Hires

Aldi is seeking to hire an additional 20,000 new store and warehouse workers, and is luring them with increased pay.

The Batavia, Ill.-based discounter in a release Aug. 16 said it had recently bumped wages to $15 to $19 per hour, depending on market and position. The company is hosting a “National Hiring Week” Sept. 20-24 during which its 2,100 stores and 25 warehouses in the U.S. will have interview events to fill available positions.

Aldi in a release said the hiring spree reflects the company’s rapid growth and the need to ready staff for the busy upcoming holiday season. The wage adjustment comes as retailers industrywide scramble for help amid a labor shortage that’s pressured them to increase pay and benefits.

A company spokesperson was not immediately available to address several follow-up questions posed by WGB, including specifying Aldi’s wage rates prior to its recent adjustment.

Historically, hard discounters such as Aldi—which rely on efficiencies, flat labor structures and tend not to offer service departments in stores—have offered relatively higher hourly wages than their conventional counterparts. Aldi noted its employees are also eligible for a range of benefits, including healthcare and retirement plans, financial wellness and employee assistance programs, and generous paid time off.  

“As an award-winning employer, we know the importance of investing in our people,” Dave Rinaldo, co-president of Aldi U.S., said in a statement. “Employees come to Aldi for the competitive pay and opportunity to work for a growing national brand. They stay for the career potential and satisfaction they feel knowing their work makes a difference in the communities they serve.”  

Aldi has been named a National Top Workplace by Energage from 2017 to 2021 and has been honored by Forbes as one of America’s Best Large Employers six times since 2015. Aldi also recently received a 2021 “Great Place to Work” certification, which is based on an employee survey about company culture and confirms the company’s commitment to a positive employee experience.