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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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    1. Richard B. Freeman & Edward P. Lazear, 1995. "An Economic Analysis of Works Councils," NBER Chapters, in: Works Councils: Consultation, Representation, and Cooperation in Industrial Relations, pages 27-52, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Amparo Nagore García & Arthur van Soest, 2017. "New job matches and their stability before and during the crisis," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 38(7), pages 975-995, October.
    3. John Forth, 2008. "Conflict at Work: The Pattern of Disputes in Britain since 1980," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 316, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    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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