Job switching and knowledge transfer: The case of Norwegian mining and metallurgy, 1787–1940

Abstract

This paper explores the career paths of educated workers, including mining engineers and other professionals, in Norway’s mining and metallurgical industries from 1787 to 1940. Employing the HISCO classification to track job switches, it analyses knowledge transfer within these industries, in line with Cohen and Levinthal’s absorptive capacity theory. The results show that educated workers primarily joined large firms, frequently moving between mining and metallurgical branches and transitioning to related sectors such as mechanical workshops, energy, and chemicals. This pattern underlines employers’ preference for prior experience in technically similar yet specialised sectors, enhancing knowledge transfer much in line with Cohen and Levinthal’s theory. Internationally experienced engineers were particularly valued. Many professionals ended their careers in public mining institutions, contributing to a significant pool of practical knowledge there. The study notes the state’s proactive role in fostering the mining and metallurgical industries, emphasising the partnership between the government and these industries.