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Towards a life after retail? The relationship between human capital and career outcomes in retail

Author

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  • Nilsson, Helena

    (Center of Entrepreneurship and Spatial Economics (CEnSE), Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping, Sweden.)

  • Backman, Mikaela

    (Center of Entrepreneurship and Spatial Economics (CEnSE), Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping, Sweden.)

  • Öner, Özge

    (Cambridge University, Cambridge, U.K.)

Abstract

The retail sector accounts for a large share of employment in many economies, and many young individuals regard the retail sector as a steppingstone in the labor market. As the retail sector comprises various types of employment and diverse tasks, those employed in the retail sector are able to transition across different roles. Retail firms, however, often experience high labor turnover, which is costly to firms. This paper addresses how the human capital of full-time retail employees relates to labor turnover. We study individuals working in the retail sector between 1990 and 2018 and analyze how their human capital is associated with their likelihood of remaining in the same establishment and/or in the retail sector at large. Results indicate that firm-specific human capital decreases the probability of quitting, while formal education has the opposite effect. Industry experience and specific retail education, however, decreases the probability of leaving an establishment.

Suggested Citation

  • Nilsson, Helena & Backman, Mikaela & Öner, Özge, 2020. "Towards a life after retail? The relationship between human capital and career outcomes in retail," HFI Working Papers 15, Institute of Retail Economics (Handelns Forskningsinstitut).
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:hfiwps:0015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    retail; human capital; experience; education; career outcomes; Sweden;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce

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