Chinese internationalization into African and Western labour markets: the impact of market- versus knowledge-seeking motives

Kerstin J. Schaefer and Elisa Gambino

Chapter 5 in Handbook of Labour Mobility, 2026, pp 68-86 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In this chapter, we contrast differences and similarities of Chinese MNCs in African and Western labour markets in regard to MNCs’ internationalization motives. We explore reasons for Chinese firms entering foreign labour markets and how market versus knowledge-seeking investment motives translate to different hiring strategies and local labour market impacts. In order to do so, we use insights from extensive interview and fieldwork material on the case studies of the China Communications Construction Company and Huawei Technologies. Specifically, we delve into political controversies surrounding the internationalization of these MNCs, such as those stemming from concerns regarding knowledge flows to China in combination with lack of skill development or knowledge-transfer benefiting local workers. Here, we gain deeper insights from contrasting the role of Chinese and local workers for Chinese MNCs, as well as the differences in career opportunities, the role of cultural boundary spanners within firms, and local labour controversies and brokerage.

Keywords: Chinese Multinational Corporations; Internationalization Motives; China Communications Construction Company; Huawei; Knowledge-seeking; Market-seeking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035331680
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