iPhone maker Apple has increased the pay for its hourly U.S. employees, as technology companies face a tight labor market, a surge in unionization efforts and rising inflation, Reuters news report said.

“The starting pay for hourly workers in the United States will rise to $22, or higher based upon the market, a 45 percent jump from 2018 levels,” Apple said in a statement to Reuters.

Apple is increasing its overall compensation budget this year as part of the annual performance review process. Apple did not reveal the number of its hourly workers in the United States.

Cupertino, California-based Apple has informed some workers their annual reviews would be advanced by three months and the new pay will take effect in early July.

Last year some current and former workers of Apple began criticizing the company’s working conditions online.

In April, workers at Apple’s Atlanta store filed a petition to hold a union election, seeking to become the company’s first U.S. store to unionize amid a wave of labor activity at other major firms.