Using German establishment data, this paper examines the relationship between product market competition and the extent … of employer provided training. We demonstrate that high product market competition is associated with increased training … except when the competition is so severe as to threaten liquidation to a firm. We take this as evidence of an inverted U …

contrast, signaling leadership skills has no effect. Last, we consider the role of labor market competition. Companies facing … competition in the labor market, measured by the number of competitors advertising similar positions, are 56 to 66% less likely to … novel evidence that soft skills and labor market competition both play an important role in understanding hiring …