The mechanism through which outsourcing favourably impacts on workplace performance, particularly productivity, is still unclear. I explore the hypothesis that it does so by impacting workers’ training. I use AWIRS-1995, a matched employer–employee survey that reports ample information on...

Training (for workers) and innovation (for workplaces) are not free lunches. Both activities are also highly risky. If training is costly, possibly not all workers will received it. If training expenses are substantial, employers may attempt to recoup part of the training costs per employee by...