Boarding a Sinking Ship? An Investigation of Job Applications to Distressed Firms
51 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2012 Last revised: 15 Oct 2012
Date Written: January 24, 2013
Abstract
We use novel data from a leading online job search platform to examine the impact of corporate distress on firms’ ability to attract job applicants. Survey responses suggest that job seekers accurately perceive firms’ financial health, as measured by the companies’ credit default swap prices. Analyzing responses to job postings by major financial firms during the recent financial crisis, we find that an increase in an employer’s distress results in fewer and lower quality applicants. These effects are particularly evident when the social safety net provides workers with weak protection against unemployment and for positions requiring advanced training.
Keywords: labor supply, corporate distress, unemployment risk, employee recruitment, job applications
JEL Classification: G20, G32, G33, J64, M5
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