The American Geophysical Union (AGU) and the American Geological Institute (AGI), working in conjunction with the Commission for Professionals in Science and Technology (CPST), collected data on recent Ph.D. graduates in the Earth and space sciences. The term Earth and space sciences has been used by the National Research Council (NRC) in their science standards.
The Sloan Foundation funded CPST in 1996 to survey recent Ph.D. graduates. Recent was defined as those who had graduated during the period July 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996. Funding also was received to survey those who would graduate during the period July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1997. During the first year, there were seven scientific societies involved covering six disciplines. They were:
The NSF’s Division of Science Resource Studies helped support the second year of the survey. In addition to the above societies, the second year consisted of the following additional societies covering some of the disciplines not covered previously:
In addition the Burroughs Wellcome Fund supported the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, thus enabling them to participate in the second year of the survey. The results of the second year of the survey, compared across disciplines, can be found at http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/survey/.
In 1996, the percentage of new doctorates who were unemployed on October 13th was 3% of the population that responded to the survey. In 1997 the figure was 5%. These data could be biased because respondents who have jobs are more apt to reply than those who do not have jobs. The date of October 13th was chosen so data in all disciplines might be compared.
The unemployment rate in the discipline societies that have surveyed their membership for many years (ACS, AIP, and AMS) and who therefore should have a good fix on the rate of unemployment have similar rates to those in the Earth and space sciences. In chemistry the 1996 rate was 4% and in 1997 the rate was 4.6%. In physics the 1996 rate was 3% and the 1997 rate was 1.8%. In mathematics the 1996 rate was 5% and in 1997 it was 2.3%.
For the post-docs in 1997, the mean time to find employment was 5.42 months, for the non post-docs it was 4.48 months. Those respondents who had not yet found a position had been looking for 8.9 months, on the average. The 1996 data indicate that it took 6.0 months to find a position whether you were a post-doc or not. Those who were still looking as of October 13, 1996 also had been looking for 6 months.
In 1997 the Earth and space science time to find a position falls between chemistry’s 6.0 months and physics’ 4.0 months.
We considered all post-doc positions as temporary ones and the survey document specifically laid out that guideline. From the survey, 40% of the working recent doctoral graduates were in post-doc positions. In addition we asked if the temporary positions were taken because there was no suitable permanent position available. The 1996 results indicated that about 52% of the positions were temporary and 40% were taken because no permanent positions were available. In 1997 52% again were temporary positions; however, 37% were taken because no permanent positions were available.
Although many of the recent PhDs are employed, there is a significant number, about 42% that continue to seek another job. This percentage was constant both for 1996 and 1997. It appears from a later set of questions that the reason for the continued searching is because of the temporary nature of the position rather than the subject matter of the work. Stability is a very highly sought commodity among this group.
Figure 1. Preferred Job Search Method. (P=Postdoc, NP=Non-Postdoc) [Enlarged figure]
The best way to find a position is through informal channels, such as friends or colleagues. In both years of the survey, this method was the number one method reported. Mentoring by faculty advisors is still alive and well. It was the second best method selected in 1996 and was the same for post-docs in 1997. The non post-docs second choice in 1997 was through newsletter, magazines, and journals.
Figure 2. Primary Work Activity. (P=Postdoc, NP=Non-Postdoc). [Enlarged figure]
Post-docs were primarily employed in education while a greater number of non-postdocs were employed in government or business. If we look at primary activities in these sectors of employment, postdocs are primarily doing research. Non-postdocs, however, are teaching in the educational sector, involved in research in the government sector, and primarily doing consulting work in the business sector. Please note that total numbers of respondents who provided this information are small.
Figure 3. Employment Sector. (P=Postdoc, NP=Non Postdoc) [Enlarged figure]
More than 50% of the recent PhDs are involved in educational activities according to both years of the survey. In 1996, nearly 30% were involved in other activities such as government and self employment and the business sector had only 14% of the new PhDs. In 1997, the business sector increased to 23% and the government employed 17%.
Median salaries did not change radically from 1996 to 1997. The table below shows the data in several major categories.
SALARY TABLE
Most of the scientific disciplines have similar salaries. The exceptions are the chemical engineers who make larger salaries in education, business and industry, and the government. Of course, computer scientists do well across the board especially in the business and industry sector. Mathematicians also do well in business and industry as well as in the government.
The new doctorates were asked about their current positions and were asked to grade their answers with 1=to strong disagreement and 5=to strong agreement. The results for both years are given below.
OPINION TABLE
Similar opinions were received from all disciplines indicating that there is more comfort than had been thought although there still is room for improvement.
Requests for names and addresses were sent to 308 departments in Earth and space sciences in 1996. Replies were received from 160 departments for a response rate of 52%. Societies such as AIP and the American Mathematical Society who have surveyed their members for years had response rates of 91% and 80% respectively. Computer science which was surveying their members for the first time had a response rate of 55%. In 1997, 308 departments in the Earth and space sciences were queried and 145 responded giving a response rate of 47%.
Surveys were sent to 561 recent PhDs in 1996. Responses were received from 248 for a response rate of 44%. In 1997 surveys were sent to 489 recent PhDs. Responses were received from 259 for a response rate of 53%.
It is anticipated that as the survey results become widely disseminated and the survey is recognized by the community, response rates will increase.
CPST, 1997: Supply and demand indicators for new science and engineering doctorates: Results of a pilot study. CPST, Washington, DC, 15 pp.
CPST, 1998: Road map for conducting employment surveys of doctoral graduates in S&E. CPST, Washington, DC, 93 pp.
Salant, P. & Dillman, D. A., 1994: How to conduct your own survey, John Wiley, New York, NY, 232 pp
Science’s next wave URL, 1998: <http://www.nextwave.org/survey/>.