Age at doctorate award: What are the educational expenses and employment outcomes?

Definite commitments to postgraduation study or work

Employment sector

Among doctorate recipients with definite postgraduation commitments for non-postdoc employment, about half (52%) of the youngest age group took positions in the industry or business sector, double the rate of recipients age 31 to 40 at graduation (24%) and triple the rate of those age 41 or older (14%). About one-half of the two older doctorate groups took academic positions, whereas about one-third of the youngest group did so. Across all age groups, 10% or less of doctorate recipients with definite non-postdoc employment commitments reported government employment.

Employment sector of U.S. doctorate recipients with definite employment commitments, by age at doctorate award: 2016

Print
Sector 30 or younger 31–40 41 or older
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Academe 2,355 34.4 4,214 54.4 1,635 52.4
Industry or business 3,584 52.4 1,830 23.6 449 14.4
Government 385 5.6 647 8.4 323 10.3
Other 522 7.6 1,057 13.6 716 22.9