Target has announced plans to increase the number of black employees in its workforce by 20% over the next three years. The Minneapolis headquartered company has been pushing diversification over the past months in the wake of the George Floyd murder.

The retailer has a mix in its overall workforce, with 50% made up of White workers, 25% Latino, 15% Black, and 5% Asian (these numbers match up roughly with the percentages of the overall US population racial make-up), but that falls off when it comes to their leadership. There, the numbers are 75% White and 8% Black, based on 2019 data.

By pushing towards a more diverse population overall, the company hopes to attract black leaders into its executive team. "We are really committed to building a team that represents our guests, that increases advancement opportunities and also reduces turnover for our team members of color,” Melissa Kremer, Target chief human resources officer, told USA TODAY.

In a conversation in June, between Target CEO and board Chairman Brian Cornell and National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay, Cornell said:

“We pulled together a group of thousands of team members on a Zoom call, and everyone was crying, emotional and in pain. We find it’s an important time to listen to the experiences of our black team members in order to drive change and assure them we are standing with them.”

Target's Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Kiera Fernandez, added in a statement: "Now more than ever, people expect institutions and companies to play a role in creating a more inclusive and equitable society for everyone, and the influence Target can have on the U.S. and our culture is significant. We are committed to creating equity, and ensuring our intentions have a meaningful impact for our teams, guests and communities."

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