Downsizing personnel occupies founder over long period (9)
I believe the answer is:
shrinkage
'downsizing' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'personnel occupies founder over long period' is the wordplay.
'personnel' becomes 'HR' (Human Resources).
'occupies' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters occupy or enter the word).
'founder' becomes 'sink' (sinking is a kind of foundering).
'over' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, some letters go over others).
'long period' becomes 'age' (I've seen this in another clue).
'hr' put inside 'sink' is 'shrink'.
'shrink'+'age'='SHRINKAGE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shrinkage that I've seen before include "Asking her to get loss by wastage" , "Process of becoming smaller" , "getting smaller" , "Size reduction" , "lessening" .)