Career Prospects and Challenges for PhD Graduates

In this paper, I examine the issues currently faced by doctoral graduates in Japan in forming their careers, as well as what kind of support will be necessary going forward, based on the results of NISTEP’s JD-Pro Survey. Since 2000, major countries have seen an increase in doctoral degree holders, leading to an increase in fixed-term employment in academia, and the problem of “Research Precariat” has become apparent. Although the number of doctoral degrees conferred is decreasing in Japan, similar trends can be seen in humanities field. It has become clear that career paths for doctoral graduates vary greatly by field, so going forward it is expected that support programs tailored to the characteristics of each field will be necessary.