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A Tale of Two Fields? STEM Career Outcomes

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  • Xuan Jiang
  • Joseph Staudt
  • Bruce A. Weinberg

Abstract

Is the labor market for US researchers experiencing the best or worst of times? This paper analyzes the market for recently minted Ph.D. recipients using supply-and-demand logic and data linking graduate students to their dissertations and W2 tax records. We also construct a new dissertation-industry “relevance” measure, comparing dissertation and patent text and linking patents to assignee firms and industries. We find large disparities across research fields in placement (faculty, postdoc, and industry positions), earnings, and the use of specialized human capital. Thus, it appears to simultaneously be a good time for some fields and a bad time for others.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuan Jiang & Joseph Staudt & Bruce A. Weinberg, 2023. "A Tale of Two Fields? STEM Career Outcomes," Working Papers 23-53, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    • Handle: RePEc:cen:wpaper:23-53
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Deborah Wagner & Mary Lane, 2014. "The Person Identification Validation System (PVS): Applying the Center for Administrative Records Research and Applications’ (CARRA) Record Linkage Software," CARRA Working Papers 2014-01, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
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    JEL classification:

    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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