Discovering the Regional Small World of Labour Mobility. Evidence from Linked Employer-Employee Data

This paper investigates the structure of inter-firm worker mobility in an industrial region of Northern Italy using complex network analysis applied to linked employer-employee data. The empirical network reveals a small-world pattern based critically on a small number of hub firms that keep the labour market integrated. Focal firms are: (1) long-established manufacturing companies; (2) wholesalers; and (3) companies that supply workforce to third parties. The paper discusses the immediate policy implications of these findings as well as the potential of the methodology as a monitoring tool to guide industrial policies aimed at safeguarding and promoting labour reallocation mechanisms.

GIANELLE Carlo; 

2013-10-24

ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS

JRC70165

0034-3404,   

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2012.697993,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC70165,   

10.1080/00343404.2012.697993,