What is known about doctoral employment? Reflections from a UK study and directions for future research

Over the last two decades, international governments have positioned PhD holders as vital to prosperity – and yet, understanding of PhD holders’ economic, social and cultural contributions remains considerably undeveloped. This article shares insights from a secondary analysis study of PhD employment in the UK. This study made use of the Destination of Leavers of Higher Education Longitudinal Survey, which provides the most comprehensive record of PhD employment currently available in the UK. Nevertheless, significant limitations arose when using the dataset to explore doctoral careers, suggesting that a new empirical approach is needed. In particular, there is a pressing need for richer demographic and decision-making data on PhD holders, along with a more extensive, longitudinal view of the careers they forge. The reflections and recommendations emerging from this study will be of interest to scholars and policymakers beyond the UK, given the global investment in the expansion of doctoral education.