DUAL-CAREER COUPLES IN RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT LABS

OVERVIEW: Location can affect a firm's ability to recruit and retain p rofessional employees. Location also influences the characteristics of the local labor market from which the firm draws its employees. Locat ion preferences differ among household groups, with dual career couple s particularly constrained and attracted to large metropolitan centers . The findings of this study suggest that it is beneficial not only fo r employees but for employers of professionals to locate in metropolit an areas. Companies that fail to consider the dual career couple as a unique employee group may not recognize the counterproductive nature o f their personnel policies and procedures and, as a result, may lose t op professionals.