The Labor Market Consequences of Acquisitions

Author: Jakob Beuschlein (RFBerlin, Humboldt University of Berlin)Jósef Sigurdsson (Stockholm University, CEPR, CESifo, and IZA)Horng Chern Wong (Stockholm University)
Posted: 25 September 2025

Abstract

We study the effects of corporate acquisitions on workers using Swedish administrative data and document substantial, persistent earnings losses following acquisitions. These losses reflect both displacement and wage cuts among stayers from target firms. We find no evidence that increased monopsony power accounts for these wage cuts. Instead, they are concentrated in acquisitions where the acquiring-firm CEO sat on the board of the target prior to the transaction. Such acquisitions increase acquiring-firm profits and CEO pay, without affecting total employment or revenue, consistent with rent redistribution. Overall, acquisitions reduce wages and disrupt employment, with profit gains partly extracted from workers.
JEL codes: G34, J23, J31, J42, J63, L25
Keywords: Mergers and acquisitions, wages, layoffs, monopsony, firm performance, managers