Foreign owners and perceived job insecurity in Germany : evidence from linked employer-employee data

Using linked employer-employee data from Germany, we examine the role of foreign owners in employees' perceptions of job insecurity. Our estimates show that there tends to be a positive link between foreign owners and perceived job insecurity. The link is specifically strong for foreign-owned firms with high personnel turnover or poor employment growth. It is also stronger if the foreign-owned firm provides managerial profit sharing. However, the link is negative for foreign-owned firms with product innovations.