The employment destination of PhD‐holders in Italy: Non‐academic funded projects as drivers of successful segmentation

Abstract

In high‐income countries in recent years, the non‐academic labour market destination of PhD‐holders, i.e., the segmentation by industry sector of destination, has emerged as an issue. Universities and other research‐intensive institutions can no longer absorb the major share of PhD‐holders. Their employment has become a matter of segmentation both horizontally in terms of the economy and vertically in terms of income. The article reports on outcomes from analysis that tested what factors segment labour market outcomes in two dimensions: (1) the economic sector and (2) income. Findings suggest that scientific mobility and type of funding during PhD studies do not play a notable role. Instead, some types of experiences such as a postdoctoral research position, predict exit from academic employment and also a higher income overall. The most significant experiences that contribute to segmentation are in fact projects funded by private companies or international organisations in postdoctoral periods. Implications for policy making are relevant for both PhD‐holders, universities and external organisations. For instance, maximising collaborations between non‐academic employers and universities is likely to produce beneficial outcomes for PhD‐holders.

Labour market perspectives for PhD graduates in Europe

“…Universities could be advised to develop supporting schemes for intersectoral to sectoral mobility and cooperation, bring more industry professionals to academia, and vice-versa, through internships, networking, projects, and industrial or professional doctorates. These recommendations are in line with the literature showing that, for instance, those PhD holders who engaged in collaboration with the private sector during their PhD or whose PhD is funded by companies, are also more likely to work in a company after completing their PhD (Boman et al, 2021;Marini, 2022).…”

“…Another issue is that understanding the added value of the doctoral degree by employers outside academia varies importantly depending on the country, as does the connection between doctoral education and destination employment (Marini, 2022). Appreciation of a PhD outside academia, as testified by our interviewees, may be an issue and has been also raised in the literature (Casey, 2009).…”

PhD holders propensity to work in research-intensive sectors: evidence from Italy

“…Jones (2018) lists a set of differences that distinguish these professionals: (i) career focusdesigned to meet the needs of the industry; (ii) domain of researchstarting from a practical problem and striving to find solutions; (iii) admission requirementsprerequisite of profes-sional experience; (iv) mode of studyteaching given in blocks after working hours; (v) socializationstrong component of team work and communities of practice; and (vi) breath of focusbroad knowledge base in the area. According to Marini (2022) this brings political consequences (e.g., doctorates will have to obtain secure positions in any economic sector, incomes will have to be adjusted to their level of specialization).…”

Decision making of PhD students regarding careers and employment in East Asia

“…The training, career choices, and employment of PhDs are issues that have attracted much attention in the higher education research literature over the last two decades (e.g. Marini, 2022; McAlpine & Emmioglu, 2015; Sarrico, 2022). However, the issue of PhD careers and employment in East Asia, 1 a region that is among the largest producers of PhDs worldwide, lacks research and analysis in the international literature.…”