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Match to Grow

Nasim Sabah & Michael Zheng

Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis2026https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022109026102579article
FT50AJG 4ABDC A*
Weight
0.50

What the paper says

This study proposes a specific channel through which labor markets facilitate firm growth: the occupational alignment between an establishment’s workforce and local skills. Using occupational employment statistics, we construct an index that compares each establishment’s occupational mix to that of its local market. Establishments with higher alignment grow faster in sales and employment. This growth comes primarily through lower adjustment costs and higher capital investment. We also show that the effects are most pronounced in establishments with a higher share of skilled workers and industries with higher idiosyncratic cash flow risk. This employee–firm matching channel helps explain how local labor markets translate into competitive advantage.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022109026102579

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@article{nasim2026,
  title        = {{Match to Grow}},
  author       = {Nasim Sabah & Michael Zheng},
  journal      = {Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022109026102579},
}

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Match to Grow

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.