Doctoral training and labour market needs. Evidence in Spain

During the past two decades, the European political authorities have increasingly become interested in assessing the training received by PhD graduates, considered as a key factor for the socio-economic development of the European Union. However, no agreement has been reached on the parameters to be taken into account in such assessment. This research proposes the time it takes a PhD graduate to find a job position directly linked to his doctoral training (a suitable job), which indicates how suitable doctoral training is in order to meet market needs. The outcomes allow us to conclude that doctoral training in Spain for the period 1990–2006 turned out to be the right one to meet labour-market needs, as 75% of PhDs found a suitable job during such period and, besides, a high percentage of them found a job during the year following that in which they got the degree. On the other hand, significant differences are observed between both sexes, as the percentage of women who found a suitable job was lower than men. Finally, the field of knowledge becomes a very significant factor when it comes to finding a suitable job. Once again, less significant effects are observed in case of women.