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

Author

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  • Giulio Marini

    (Quantitative Social Sciences Centre in the 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

Suggested Citation

  • Giulio Marini, 2021. "The employment destination of PhD-holders in Italy: non-academic funded projects as drivers of successful segmentation," DoQSS Working Papers 21-16, Quantitative Social Science - UCL Social Research Institute, University College London.
    • Handle: RePEc:qss:dqsswp:2116
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    File URL: http://repec.ioe.ac.uk/REPEc/pdf/qsswp2116.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    doctoral holders; employability; industry-university relations; post-doctoral funding; self-employment; natural experiment; Italy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • C36 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation

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