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Skill-biased acquisitions? Human capital and target employee mobility in small technology firms

Xiao, Jing LU orcid and Lindholm Dahlstrand, Åsa LU orcid (2021) In Papers in Innovation Studies
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between acquisitions and mobility of knowledge workers and managers in small technology companies and how individual skills and capabilities moderate the relationship. Relying on the matched employer-employee data of the Swedish high-tech sectors from 2007 to 2015, we find that acquisitions increase the likelihood of employee departures, mainly in the form of switching to another employer, but that these acquisition effects are weaker for employees with technological competences. Moreover, we also find that managers, compared to other employees, are more likely to exit from the (national) labor market after acquisitions. Our results show that acquiring firms tend to gain... (More)
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between acquisitions and mobility of knowledge workers and managers in small technology companies and how individual skills and capabilities moderate the relationship. Relying on the matched employer-employee data of the Swedish high-tech sectors from 2007 to 2015, we find that acquisitions increase the likelihood of employee departures, mainly in the form of switching to another employer, but that these acquisition effects are weaker for employees with technological competences. Moreover, we also find that managers, compared to other employees, are more likely to exit from the (national) labor market after acquisitions. Our results show that acquiring firms tend to gain access to and retain knowledge workers with engineering background. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Working paper/Preprint
publication status
published
subject
in
Papers in Innovation Studies
issue
2021/12
publisher
CIRCLE, Lund University
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7ec27126-32ad-4100-a1b4-a3470f8ba249
alternative location
http://wp.circle.lu.se/upload/CIRCLE/workingpapers/202112_xiao.pdf
date added to LUP
2021-11-18 13:47:26
date last changed
2021-11-20 02:28:00
@misc{7ec27126-32ad-4100-a1b4-a3470f8ba249,
  abstract     = {{The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between acquisitions and mobility  of knowledge workers and managers in small technology companies and how individual skills  and capabilities moderate the relationship. Relying on the matched employer-employee data of the Swedish high-tech sectors from 2007 to 2015, we find that acquisitions increase the  likelihood of employee departures, mainly in the form of switching to another employer, but  that these acquisition effects are weaker for employees with technological competences.  Moreover, we also find that managers, compared to other employees, are more likely to exit  from the (national) labor market after acquisitions. Our results show that acquiring firms tend  to gain access to and retain knowledge workers with engineering background.}},
  author       = {{Xiao, Jing and Lindholm Dahlstrand, Åsa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Working Paper}},
  number       = {{2021/12}},
  publisher    = {{CIRCLE, Lund University}},
  series       = {{Papers in Innovation Studies}},
  title        = {{Skill-biased acquisitions? Human capital and target employee mobility in small technology firms}},
  url          = {{http://wp.circle.lu.se/upload/CIRCLE/workingpapers/202112_xiao.pdf}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}