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Explaining Labour Turnover: Empirical Evidence from UK Establishments

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  • Christopher Martin

Abstract

. This paper investigates the determinants of labour turnover using establishment‐level survey data for the UK. The main contribution of our paper is that it estimates the impact of wages, unionization, training and other aspects of working conditions on labour turnover. Our main findings are: (i) turnover is inversely related to the relative wage; (ii) unionism reduces turnover: this is due mainly to the ability of unions to improve conditions of work rather than the voice‐exit model of Freeman; (iii) there is a complex relationship between turnover and training; and (iv) turnover is lower in the ‘high‐tech’ sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Martin, 2003. "Explaining Labour Turnover: Empirical Evidence from UK Establishments," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 17(3), pages 391-412, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:labour:v:17:y:2003:i:3:p:391-412
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-9914.00246
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Burgess, Simon M, 1989. "Employment and Turnover in UK Manufacturing Industries, 1963-82," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 51(2), pages 163-192, March.
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    3. Manning, Alan, 2011. "Imperfect Competition in the Labor Market," Handbook of Labor Economics, in: O. Ashenfelter & D. Card (ed.), Handbook of Labor Economics, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 11, pages 973-1041, Elsevier.
    4. Nivorozhkin, Anton & Poeschel, Friedrich, 2022. "Working conditions in essential occupations and the role of migrants," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 250-261.

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