Locals are employees who have or desire long service. They have progressed by increments and promotions in the hierarchical, internal labour market of the firm. They reap rewards of pay increments and organisational benefits. They have, and are encouraged to have, commitment and loyalty to the organisation. They have depth knowledge of organisational history, procedures, values, interpersonal networks and, according to hierarchical level, organisational politics.
Cosmopolitans can move more freely in the external labour market and from employer to employer.
These professionals often have more technical know-out in a functional area than their hierarchical and generalist superiors in their organisation. Those who rise through the ranks to positions of seniority know the business and its products. This is the environment they know and are comfortable with. The long service employee may be limited in their ability to move from the internal market and enter a brisk external market because of family, pension as well as their range of experience. Compare changes in the UK and Japanese labour markets.