| Abstract: |
This paper presents an analysis of the labour market and mobility indicators
generated by the second large-scale data collection on Careers of Doctorate
Holders, a joint project by the OECD, UNESCO Institute for Statistics and
Eurostat.<P> There has been a steady increase in the number of doctoral
degrees being awarded across the OECD and the evidence points to a sustained
labour market premium of doctorate holders relative to other highly qualified
individuals in 2009, prior to the potential impact of the economic crisis.
Women and younger doctoral graduates, however, fare relatively worse in terms
of employment rates, but these results are less marked than for lower degree
holders. While temporary positions are increasingly common in academics,
coinciding with the rise of postdoctoral positions, they are less so in
business. Natural scientists and engineers are those who are more likely to be
engaged in research, while social scientists find more opportunities in
non-research occupations. Doctorate holders in the medical and health sciences
are generally better paid. Earnings are also typically higher in the business
sector than in other sectors, but there are exceptions. Job mobility patterns
differ markedly across countries, with mobility being more frequent among
doctorates not working in research. Oftentimes mobility from the business
sector to the higher education sector is higher than the other way around.
International mobility, as well as migration of doctoral graduates, have kept
increasing over the decade. |