From PhD to initial employment: the doctorate in a knowledge economy

Abstract

Within universities there is often still an implicit assumption that the doctorate is preparation for an academic career. Yet for over a decade there has been evidence in a number of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries that there are increasing numbers of students undertaking a doctorate and that larger proportions of doctoral graduates are taking up non-academic employment. This article presents findings from a study of Australian doctoral employment destinations for the period 2000–2007. These findings are also discussed in terms of disciplinary and institutional variations. Comparisons are made with European and US studies on employment trends, contributing to a more international picture of doctoral outcomes in terms of employment. The study utilises a public policy framework within the context of the development of knowledge economies, outcomes-based judgements on education and the professionalisation of the doctorate in Australia and other OECD countries.

Keywords:

• doctoral graduate students
• initial employment destinations
• trend analysis
• institutional and disciplinary differences
• knowledge economy