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Returns to doctoral education in Finland

Author

Listed:
  • Lauro Carnicelli

  • Tuomo Suhonen

Abstract

This report examines the evolution of the economic status and role of PhD holders in Finland’s labor market and firms using Statistics Finland’s register and survey data. Special attention is paid to PhD graduates in the business, ICT, and engineering fields. The findings indicate a very tight labor market for PhD holders until the late 2000s, followed by rising unemployment and overeducation among them, as well as a stagnating wage premium for completing a PhD, in the 2010s. While PhDs have earned more than master’s and bachelor’s graduates on average, the PhD wage premium is found to be much higher for women than for men and to vary across fields of study. The firm-level analyses show no significant changes in productivity or profitability around the event of hiring the first PhD in a firm, whereas a higher share of PhD workers is found to be associated with increased wages and productivity. The results also provide suggestive evidence of PhDs, particularly those in the business, ICT, and engineering fields, playing a role in business-university collaboration.

Suggested Citation

  • Lauro Carnicelli & Tuomo Suhonen, 2025. "Returns to doctoral education in Finland," Studies 117, Työn ja talouden tutkimus LABORE, The Labour Institute for Economic Research LABORE.
    • Handle: RePEc:pst:studie:117
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    File URL: https://labore.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Tutkimuksia-117.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2025
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • 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

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