Promovierte auf dem außeruniversitären Arbeitsmarkt: mehr als ein „Plan B“

In Germany the number of graduates as well as doctorate holders is growing. Outside academia doctorate holders are in high demand on the labour market, indicated by a very good occupational situation. For PhD. holders who want to work in research the private sector offers many opportunities, at least in those economic sectors that are R&D intensive. Given that the private sector offers attractive careers for this highly qualified group, the question arises whether academia is really able to attract the best researchers for a career inside academia. This article presents empirical research, based on large datasets of graduate surveys. As economic sectors differ to a high degree when it comes to work tasks and career opportunities, analysis is done separately for different fields of study that are associated with particular economic sectors. The results show that in many fields of study that are associated with sectors of high R&D intensity the best qualified doctorate holders are as likely to be occupied in the private R&D sector as in academia. Therefore academia is in high competition with private R&D when it comes to attracting the brightest researchers.