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Skill shortages and firms' employment behaviour

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  • Stevens, Philip Andrew

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of skill shortages on the dynamics of employment at the firm level for UK manufacturing between 1984-94. We find that shortages of skilled labour have a statistically significant effect on firms' employment behaviour. It has a positive effect on firms' adjustment costs leading to employment being more sluggish to respond when the labour market is tight, implying that employment adjustment will be more responsive in the downward direction.
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  • Stevens, Philip Andrew, 2007. "Skill shortages and firms' employment behaviour," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 231-249, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:14:y:2007:i:2:p:231-249
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    1. Bert Minne & Marc van der Steeg & Dinand Webbink, 2008. "Skill gaps in the EU: role for education and training policies," CPB Document 162, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    2. Sharma, Kishor & Oczkowski, Edward & Hicks, John, 2016. "Skill shortages in regional Australia: A local perspective from the Riverina," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 34-44.
    3. Brenzel, Hanna & Müller, Anne, 2015. "Higher wages or lower expectations? : adjustments of German firms in the hiring process," IAB-Discussion Paper 201506, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    4. Mok, Penny & Mason, Geoff & Stevens, Philip & Timmins, Jason, 2012. "A Good Worker is Hard to Find: Skills Shortages in New Zealand Firms," Occasional Papers 12/5, Ministry of Economic Development, New Zealand.
    5. Pouliakas, Konstantinos & Wruuck, Patricia, 2022. "Corporate Training and Skill Gaps: Did COVID-19 Stem EU Convergence in Training Investments?," IZA Discussion Papers 15343, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Arnold, Daniel & Hillerich-Sigg, Annette & Nolte, André, 2017. "Fachkräftemangel: Reaktionen der Betriebe sowie Auswirkungen auf Investitionsentscheidungen und Wachstum. Studie im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie: Abschlussbericht," ZEW Expertises, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, number 162879.

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