IPOs, Human Capital, and Labor Reallocation

Abstract How does access to public equity markets affect the human capital of IPO filing firms? While IPO filing firms have high average wages and limited industrial diversification, a successful IPO increases departures of high-wage employees to startups and triggers industrial diversification through employment growth in non-core industries. Surprisingly, IPOs do not significantly affect the earnings growth of pre-IPO workers. Instead, post-IPO hires receive larger earnings increases upon joining. Overall, going public has a significant effect on a firm’s workforce and labor reallocation across firms.