The Impact of Downsizing on the Social Capital Resources and Career Prospects of African–American Survivors

Abstract

This study examines African–American survivors’ perceptions of how downsizing impacted their access to social capital resources and its effect on their careers. Layoffs can negatively affect the composition of the survivors’ social ties at work and their access to career-related social capital resources. Using interview data, I find that most respondents lost contacts who offered social capital resources, which they perceived as detrimental to their career advancement. They also did not discuss having immediate access to additional sources of social capital resources. The implications of layoffs for the advancement of historically disadvantaged groups and organizations’ ability to maintain a diverse workforce are discussed.