How Сompanies Search Employees: Empirical Evidence From Russian Companies

Abstract

This study analyses employees search by companies. We focus on channels of search that companies use. Using original data of 2015 survey of 1799 Russian companies on HR we found out that the most popular channels were Internet and informal social connections (friends, co-workers, relatives). State-owned companies use public employment agency while companies with foreign owners prefer formal channels (media ads, private employment agency). Also we don’t identify considerable influence of search costs on company’s choice of search channels. Companies in good financial shape use less channels of search. Interindustry differences are found insignificant.