Managing a multicultural workforce is essential for multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating globally, yet its impact on organizational outcomes remains relatively underexplored. Drawing upon the recent integrated framework of multiculturalism and human capital resources emergence, we explore how multicultural human capital can be transformed and amplified into unit-level resources, contributing to the enhancement of MNEs’ competitiveness. Additionally, we identify three distinct emergence enablers that amplify its positive impact on competitive advantage: (1) the cultural experiences of top management team (TMT) members; (2) the prominence of foreign languages within MNEs; and (3) the inflow of multicultural human capital. Utilizing a sample of 472 MNEs across 24 manufacturing sectors, encompassing 36,757 managers and employees from 2006 to 2015 in South Korea, we found a positive relationship between multicultural human capital and MNEs’ competitive advantage. Moreover, the moderation effects of all three emergence enablers were supported. The findings underscore the importance of fostering a multicultural workforce and implementing supportive practices to enhance competitive advantage in the global business landscape.
