BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart is increasing its minimum wage to $12 an hour and will give raises to more than 565,000 of its workers in the United States.

Raises of $1 an hour or more will take effect September 25 and target associates who work at registers, in the food and household goods aisles and who stock shelves, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month, citing an internal memo that was circulated to employees.

The pay increases will bring Walmart’s overall starting wage to $16.40 an hour for hourly employees, The Journal said.

Walmart’s move comes a few days after Walgreens announced it will increase the starting hourly wage for all its team members to $15 an hour. The increase will be phased in beginning in October be fully implemented by November 1.

“I am extremely proud and grateful of the work our team members are doing across our 9,000 Walgreens locations serving our customers, patients and communities each and every day,” said Roz Brewer, chief executive officer of Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens Boots Alliance. Brewer said the move should help the retail pharmacy chain to attract and retain a talented workforce and to play a vital role in community health care.