Walmart announced Thursday that it will be raising the hourly wages for more than 565,000 of its store workers by at least $1 amid fierce competition from among companies for skilled workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The world’s largest retailer said in a memo to staff that the move marks the third investment the company has made in salaries in the past year. Walmart’s U.S. average hourly wage currently stands at $16.40 with the latest wage increase. “Effective Sept. 25, associates in the Frontend, Food & Consumable and General Merchandise work groups will receive at least a $1 an hour raise. That means a raise for more than 565,000 store associates. It’s our third wage investment in store associates over the past year,” U.S. CEO John Furner wrote in a memo sent to employees, which was obtained by Yahoo Finance. The latest announcement comes just one day after the company said it plans to hire 20,000 new …