Consider This: Training, Wages, and the Enforceability of Covenants Not to Compete

This study examines the effect of noncompete enforceability on training and wages. An increase from non-enforcement to mean enforceability is associated with an 11% increase in firm-sponsored training, no effect on self-sponsored training, and a 1.7% decrease in average wages. The small, negative wage effect averages together contrasting positive effects for low earners but negative effects for high earners. One noncompete policy that does not reduce training but is associated with higher wages throughout the distribution is the requirement that firms provide workers with consideration beyond continued employment in exchange for signing noncompetes.