The employment of recent doctorate recipients in psychology: 1975 through 1978

Describes results of the American Psychological Association's 1st 4 annual Doctorate Employment Surveys from 1975 to 1978. The surveys, conducted in the winter following receipt of degrees, found a low rate of unemployment: The percentage of doctorate recipients who were unemployed and seeking employment was 3.0% in 1975 and 2.0% or lower in subsequent years. Approximately half of those unemployed at the time of the survey had been employed in psychology-related work at a professional level before receiving their doctorates. Among those employed full-time, the percentage employed in academic settings declined, and the percentages employed in human service settings and business, government, and other settings increased. Despite the decline in academic employment, 97.1% reported that their jobs were related to psychology, and 89.0% reported that their jobs were commensurate with their training. (39 ref)