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

Giulio Marini
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Giulio Marini: Quantitative Social Sciences Centre in the Social Research Institute, University College London

No 21-16, DoQSS Working Papers from Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London

Abstract: In all developed countries in recent years, the non-academic labour market destination of PhD-holders (segmentation) 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 in horizontal (economic sector) and in vertical (income) dimensions. The paper tests what factors segment labour market outcomes in both dimensions – economic sector and income. Findings suggest that whilst scientific mobility and type of funding during PhD period do not play a notable role, some types of experiences such as post-doc, instead, 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 organizations in postdoctoral periods. Policy-making implications are relevant for both PhD-holders, universities and external organizations. For instance, non-academic employers may maximise their collaborations with universities with beneficial outcomes for PhD-holders themselves as well

Keywords: doctoral holders; employability; industry-university relations; post-doctoral funding; self-employment; natural experiment; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C36 I23 I25 I26 J21 J24 J31 J62 O32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-05-01
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