PhD holders more successful than thought in job market

Report points to plentiful post-PhD opportunities in the Netherlands but says most are outside academia

Contrary to popular perception, Dutch PhD holders are doing quite well in the job market, the Rathenau Institute has concluded.

In a fact sheet on doctoral careers, the science policy think tank said that although PhD candidates faced work pressure, high insecurity and low salaries during their training, this paid off when they began their careers. The chances of PhD holders finding paid work on a permanent contract and with a relatively high income are much higher than for jobseekers without a PhD.